CABINET OFFICE

Websites

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total expenditure across Government on websites has been in each of the last six years.

Douglas Alexander: Information on expenditure on websites across government is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	Historic costs of the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk) could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, expenditure (excluding staff costs) on the Cabinet Office website for the year ending 31 March 2003 was £23,218.80 including VAT.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Devolution

Michael Weir: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised in the last month under the Scotland Act 1998.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mr. Reid), Official Report, 8 April 2003, column 119.

Human Rights

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Advocate-General what human rights issues have been raised with her since 11 March.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mr. Reid), Official Report, 8 April 2003, column 119.

Human Rights

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Advocate-General what discussions she has had with Scottish Ministers regarding the proposed establishment of a Scottish Human Rights Commission.

Lynda Clark: I have had no discussions with the Scottish Ministers regarding the proposed establishment of a Scottish Human Rights Commission.

SCOTLAND

North Sea Oil and Gas

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the prospects for the North Sea oil and gas sector.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the prospects for the Scottish economy related to the North Sea oil and gas sector.

Helen Liddell: The Government are committed to maintaining an active and successful oil and gas industry in the UK, and to promoting future development of the nation's oil and gas reserves. The sector is, and will remain, important to the wider UK economy in terms of jobs, investment and its contribution to national income. The Government are working with the industry—notably through the PILOT initiative—to encourage investment in both existing and new fields.

Iraq Conflict

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the First Minister and the Ministry of Defence about providing support to the families of Scottish troops presently in Iraq.

Helen Liddell: The Government recognise the important contribution service families make to defence. The First Minister said in his statement to the Scottish Parliament on 19 March they will have our care and support. The Ministry of Defence's aim is to manage with care the issues of dependent family members recognising the special circumstances of service families, particularly at this time.

Small Businesses

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the prospects for small businesses in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: The Government have put in place a solid macro-economic framework for business to prosper in. Small businesses make a crucial contribution to the Scottish economy and I am confident that in Scotland they are well placed to take advantage of this.

National Minimum Wage

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to give information to Scottish workers who are concerned that they may not be being paid the National Minimum Wage.

Anne McGuire: The Government have taken a number of steps to ensure that awareness of the National Minimum Wage is high in Scotland. These include a dedicated Scottish National Minimum Wage helpline, launched on 24 February; access to help and advice through the network of Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland; an interactive website www.tiger.gov.uk giving advice on employment rights and information events arranged by the joint DTI and Inland Revenue Customer Responsive Outreach Work (CROW) teams.

National Insurance

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received from Scottish (a) employers and (b) employees on the increases in National Insurance contributions.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with business organisations and trades unions about a range of matters including economic policy and taxation matters. I concur with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's view that the additional revenue from the increase in National Insurance contributions is required to fund essential increases in investment in public services.

Scotch Whisky Industry

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed in the Scotch whisky industry in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: A recent study commissioned by the Scotch Whisky Association indicated that 9,500 people are employed in Scotland in the production of Scotch whisky and that the industry supports an estimated 41,000 jobs in total in Scotland.

Compulsory Liability Insurance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with Treasury Ministers about difficulties Scottish businesses are having in getting Employer's Compulsory Liability Insurance.

Helen Liddell: My Department is in close touch with the Department for Work and Pensions, who are carrying out a review of Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance. This review is due to report to Ministers in the spring.

Manufacturing

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the prospects for manufacturing industry in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The manufacturing sector continues to be of vital importance to the Scottish economy and remains a substantial employer with significant linkages to the rest of the economy. Despite the impact of difficult global conditions the sector has an excellent export record and is well placed to benefit from the wide range of supporting measures in the Government's manufacturing strategy.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council what discussions he will have with Chairmen of select committees on pre-legislative scrutiny in the next Session of Parliament.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are committed to increase the publication of Bills in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny. My right hon. Friend wishes to establish close dialogue with the Chairman of the Liaison Committee on pre-legislative scrutiny and other matters.

Legislative Scrutiny

Norman Baker: To ask the President of the Council what plans the Government have to make proposals to improve scrutiny of European legislation.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the Government's positive responses to the report of the European Scrutiny Committee on European Scrutiny in the Commons (Second Special Report from the European Scrutiny Committee, Session 2001–02, HC 1256) and to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union entitled "Review of Scrutiny of European Legislation" (available on the Parliament website).

Legislative Scrutiny

Helen Jackson: To ask the President of the Council what proposals he has to improve scrutiny of legislation throughout the Parliamentary Session.

Ben Bradshaw: The proposals agreed by the House last October for more routine publication of Bills in draft, for consultation with opposition parties on the broad shape of the legislative year and more flexibility in programming, and for carry-over of Bills, should contribute to improved scrutiny of legislation.

Legislative Updates

Simon Hughes: To ask the President of the Council if he will arrange for the regular publication of (a) commencement dates of all new legislation and (b) the repeal date of all repealed legislation.

Ben Bradshaw: The commencement date of new legislation and the repeal dates of repealed legislation are all set out either in primary legislation or in secondary legislation, and are therefore already published in that form by the Queen's Printer (and accessible via: www.hmso.gov.uk). To make things easier for users, commencement instruments are numbered as a separate sub-series of the statutory instruments. These are identified within the SI issue list, published daily by The Stationery Office Ltd., on behalf of the Queen's Printer.
	There are a variety of commercial publications which distil and re-present the information published by the Queen's Printer, and there seems to be no need to supplement them.

Privy Council Meetings

Hugh Bayley: To ask the President of the Council how many times the Privy Council met in March 2003.

Ben Bradshaw: Once, on 20 March 2003. Full details of the business transacted at the meeting are given on the Privy Council Office website. These details are posted on the site after every meeting of the Privy Council.

Divisions

Angela Browning: To ask the President of the Council if he will list those hon. Members who since May 2001 have voted both aye and no in the same division; and if he will identify the number of times each hon. Member has done this.

Ben Bradshaw: Records are not kept of the occasions on which hon. Members vote both aye and no in the same division. The information is available from the division lists published in Hansard, but could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Magistrates Courts

Bob Spink: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the Department's policy on location of magistrates' courts.

Yvette Cooper: By statute, the Magistrates' Courts Service is locally managed. It is for local Magistrates' Courts Committees to decide on the provision of courthouses at a local level.

Magistrates Courts

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent discussions she has had about the future of Harrow magistrates court.

Yvette Cooper: I have had no discussions on the future of Harrow magistrates court. The Greater London Magistrates Court Authority concluded its consultation exercise to close the magistrates court in Harrow on 14 March 2003. No formal determination has yet been made to close the courthouse.

Ministry of Justice

Graham Allen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will bring forward proposals to restructure his Department into a Ministry of Justice; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Ministry of Justice would be responsible for the whole of the law, both civil and criminal, whereas at present, the Lord Chancellor's Department is responsible for the former and the Home Office for the latter. The distribution of responsibilities between Whitehall Departments is a matter for the Prime Minister. The present distribution of business between the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service supports the effective and efficient discharge of public business and delivery of public services.

Electoral Reform

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent assessment her Department has made of electoral practices in other EU states in considering electoral reform in the UK.

Yvette Cooper: We are always ready to consider whether electoral practices in other countries could usefully be adopted for UK elections. The responsibility for researching and assessing such matters now rests with the Electoral Commission. I understand that practice elsewhere has helped inform the Commission's current review programme covering various aspects of our electoral arrangements, the results of which they hope to present to the Government shortly.

Computer Projects

Richard Bacon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement about the management of computer projects for the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Yvette Cooper: All IT projects are managed using the Prince 2 project management methodology. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) process for Gateway Reviews is used to quality assure these projects.

Adoption and Children Act

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what programme has been agreed for the implementation of the provisions of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 for which he carries ministerial responsibility; and if he will make a statement on that programme.

Rosie Winterton: The Adoption and Children Act 2002 received Royal Assent on 7 November 2002. Ministers in the Department of Health and my Department are considering plans for implementation of the Act. Full implementation is expected by the end of 2004. However, some elements such as the definition of 'harm' in relation to domestic violence are expected sooner. We have begun to consult on amendments to the Family Proceedings Rules 1991 (Domestic Violence).

Adoption and Children Act

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when all the provisions of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 will be brought into force, with particular reference to section 122(1)(b) and section 122(2).

Rosie Winterton: The Adoption and Children Act received Royal Assent on 7 November 2002. Ministers of the Department of Health and the Lord Chancellor's Department are considering plans for implementation of the Act. Full implementation is anticipated by the end of 2004.

Children and Family Court Advisory andSupport Service

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor intends to publish the framework for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Rosie Winterton: The Framework Document for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service was published in April 2001 and copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Court of Protection

Annette Brooke: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department pursuant to her answer of 20 March 2003, Official Report, column 908W, on portfolio holdings held by the Court of Protection for minors, what measures are in place to ensure that depreciation in the value of funds held by the Public Guardianship Office is kept to a minimum.

Rosie Winterton: Any equity investment in respect of Public Guardianship Office's (PGO) clients is undertaken by external fund managers either by a panel fund manager appointed by the PGO or by a manager chosen by the receiver on behalf of the child and approved by the Court of Protection. Equities are held in a diversified portfolio, comprising holdings in individual shares or in unitised funds, so as to spread the risk. The performance of the fund managers is regularly monitored and any underperformance investigated.
	In giving its directions for the investment of funds, the Court of Protection recommends investment strategies that are deemed suitable for the individual requirements of each case. These will provide for some, and sometimes all, of the award to be held as a cash deposit in the Special Account operated by the Court Funds Office, which currently pays a favourable rate of interest of 6 per cent. This is to ensure that commitments over the shorter term can be met without there being any obligation to sell securities at a time when they may have fallen in value, and also to modify risk in the overall portfolio.
	Equities have suffered badly over the past three years, but they are still recommended as the best means of achieving a return that matches or exceeds the rate of inflation over the longer term.
	There are no specific measures in place to ensure that there is no depreciation in the value of such funds. The only way to do that would be to hold all the funds in the form of cash, but that would run the risk of failing to match future rates of inflation and mean that clients' funds would perform less well relative to equity markets when they were rising.

Criminal Justice and Court Services Act

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how the Lord Chancellor has exercised his powers under paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 2 to the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 to direct the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service on (a) the performance of its functions and powers and (b) the functions of officers of the Service; what the instructions were; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: My right hon. and Learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has not exercised his powers under paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 2 to the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. CAFCASS's Board has responsibility for establishing the Service's strategic direction within the policy framework, and the key objectives he sets for the Service and the resources he allocates to it. The Chief Executive of CAFCASS is responsible for the Service's day-to-day operation within the strategic direction set by the Board.

Departmental Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made with the pay review in the Lord Chancellor's Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: In common with other Government Departments and agencies, and in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible, are required to undertake gender equality audits of pay and related systems. In most cases these audits have either been completed or are nearing completion. The Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) proposes to conduct an equality audit later in the year, once terms and conditions of its staff have been harmonised. Audits which have been completed indicate that there are no significant gender imbalances, and action plans drawn up from the audits will indicate how any imbalances will be addressed.

Street Crime Initiative

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor's Department has for monitoring the effectiveness of courts in the Street Crime Initiative.

Yvette Cooper: The Crown Court Case Management System, CREST, is able to provide the Department with data on the progress of all cases including Street Crime Initiative cases through the courts. The Persistent Young Offender Tracker system has been amended to enable the magistrates courts to monitor the progress of Street Crime Initiative cases. Data are collated at each designated Crown and magistrates court and provided to my Department on a monthly basis.

Sunset Clauses

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the sunset clauses included in legislation from her Department since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: No Bill introduced by this Department since 1997 has included a sunset clause and there are no plans for the future use of such clauses.

PRIME MINISTER

Chequers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the people entertained on official business at Chequers since January 2002.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	My family and I have used Chequers in a variety of ways, both official and private, consistent with the wishes of the donor, Lord Lee, and the Chequers Estate Acts 1917 and 1958. The use of Chequers is governed by the Acts, and all meetings held at Chequers comply with the requirements of the Act.

Meetings (President Bush)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister on what dates he has held meetings with President Bush since 1 January 2001; and where each of these meetings took place.

Tony Blair: I have met President Bush on the following occasions since 1 January 2001:
	
		
			 Date Location/Event 
		
		
			 2001  
			 23 to 24 February Meetings at Camp David 
			 13 June NATO summit, Brussels 
			 14 June EU/US summit, Gothenburg 
			 19 July Talks at Chequers 
			 20 to 22 July G8 summit, Genoa, Italy 
			 20 September Meeting at White House, Washington 
			 7 November Meeting at White House, Washington 
			 2002  
			 5 to 7 April Talks at President's ranch, Texas 
			 25 to 27 June G8 summit, Calgary 
			 7 September Bilateral, Camp David 
			 21 November NATO summit, Prague 
			 2003  
			 31 January Meeting at White House, Washington 
			 16 March Azores summit 
			 26 to 27 March Meeting at Camp David 
			 7 to 8 April Northern Ireland summit

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Accreditation Awareness Campaign

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the United Kingdom Accreditation Service will be used by her Department for the accreditation of certification bodies acting in the organic food sector.

Alun Michael: The Department will use UKAS for the accreditation or assessment of certifications bodies acting in the organic food sector.

Accreditation Awareness Campaign

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support her Department has given to the Accreditation Awareness Campaign run by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.

Alun Michael: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 1 March 2001, Official Report, column 731W, by the Minister of Sate for Trade and Industry (Mr. Johnson), UKAS is the sole body recognised by the Government for the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies in the United Kingdom. Defra uses UKAS accreditation and assessment services whenever it is appropriate to do so Defra has drawn attention to the role of UKAS and its contribution to increasing confidence in the food supply chain by providing assurance of the competence of inspection bodies operating in the food sector. Defra has commissioned work from UKAS in the areas of organic farming, global atmosphere and research and development.

Agricultural Shows

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has carried out to establish the effects of the six-day movement rule for cattle on agricultural shows; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: We announced in a written statement on 23 January 2003 that the standstill would be reduced from 20 to six days for cattle, sheep and goats with effect from 4 March 2003, but with far fewer exemptions. The removal of most of the exemptions—including the exemption for shows—is a counter-balance to the increased risk created by the reduction in the standstill period.
	These changes took account of the emerging findings from the risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis of animal movement standstills. A report of those findings, and a supporting document explaining our decision to reduce the standstill, have been placed in the Library and published on the Defra website. The second phase of the analysis is now under way and is due to report at the end of May 2003. We will take account of the final reports—and any other new evidence—when deciding what rules should apply from 1 August 2003 and beyond.

Animal By-products

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to give guidance on the suitability of biodigestion in respect of meeting the requirements of the EU Annual By-Products Regulation.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 April 2003
	The biodigestion of animal by-products is not a permitted disposal route. However, the EU Animal By-Products Regulation may allow for novel disposal methods, such as biodigestion, to be permitted, after consultation of the appropriate scientific committee.
	I understand that the EU Commission is considering for approval a number of alternative processes that have already been submitted by the industry.
	The Commission requires any submitted data to be structured in accordance with the five key components of the Framework prepared by the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee to assist the assessment of the risk from different options for the safe disposal or use of animal products. The key components cover:
	the identification and characterisation of the risk materials;
	the TSE risk reduction by the particular process;
	the degree of risk containment;
	the identification of interdependent processes; and the intended end-use of the product.

Animal Welfare

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to public funds in 2003–04 will be of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations.

Elliot Morley: None. Enforcement of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 will be by the State Veterinary Service at no additional cost.

CAP

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the spending plans are from 2003 to 2008 for (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland under pillar two of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Elliot Morley: Rural Development Programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the relevant Administrations.
	Plans for CAP pillar 2 spending up to 2006 are set out in the published rural development programmes and are summarised as follows. These figures relate to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund accounting years (to 16 October) and consist of both EU and national funds included in Rural Development Programmes. They do not include spending financed by the European Structural Funds.
	
		£ million (Euro1:£0.63)
		
			  2003 2004 2005 2006 
		
		
			 England 242.2 269.1 284 320 
			 Northern Ireland 39.9 41.7 41.7 43.8 
			 Scotland 154.4 131.1 136.5 144.6 
			 Wales 79.6 74.6 78.7 72.4 
		
	
	The figures do not include the additional funding that was made available as a result of the 2002 Spending Review to match an increase in modulation to 10 per cent.; that funding was conditional on future ministerial decisions and (in England) on the success of the pilots for the Entry Level Agri-Environment Scheme.
	Spending in 2007 and 2008 will depend on future decisions on the allocation of EU rural development resources.

CAP

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the impact on British agriculture of the European Commission's proposals of January 2003 to reform the Common Agriculture Policy; and if she will publish the results.

Margaret Beckett: We have just this week published our assessment of the economic impact of the Commission's Long Term Perspective for Sustainable Agriculture, based on both commissioned and in-house analysis. I have placed copies of the assessment in the Libraries of the House. It is also available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/esg/economics/capreform.pdf

Combined Heat and Power

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what role she plans for micro combined heat and power in achieving carbon savings up to 2010;
	(2)  what role she plans for micro combined heat and power in the achievement of Government objectives in (a) the Climate Change strategy, (b) the fuel poverty strategy and (c) the Energy White Paper, in so far as they relate to her Department; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the Performance and Innovation Unit's assessment contained in Table 6.1 of its report on Energy Policy that micro combined heat and power is the most efficient method of carbon saving;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the possible CO2 savings that could be secured by the installation of micro combined heat and power in (a) residential properties, (b) small businesses and (c) commercial properties;
	(5)  what role she plans for micro combined heat and power in (a) CO2 reduction policies and (b) policies to end fuel poverty.

Elliot Morley: The Government is keen to encourage the development and deployment of low carbon technologies including micro CHP. As the Performance and Innovation Unit Report on energy policy noted, micro CHP has the potential to deliver carbon savings towards the targets in both the Climate Change Programme and the Energy White Paper. It might also be able to deliver lower fuel bills for consumers which in turn could contribute to meeting the Government's targets in its Fuel Poverty Strategy.
	However, the technology is not yet commercially available in the UK. It is therefore not yet possible to assess the level of carbon or fuel bill savings which might be achieved in normal use of this technology. I understand that The Carbon Trust, working with the Energy Saving Trust and others, including Defra, will be commissioning a pilot field trial for micro CHP starting later this year. I understand the trial is expected to feature a range of technologies and end use applications across the residential and commercial sectors, in order to provide an objective assessment of the benefits that micro CHP can offer.

Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Department will reply to the letters of 21 October 2002 and 23 January from the hon. Member for Billericay regarding Pitsea Tip.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 4 April 2003
	I hope to respond to the hon. Member shortly.

Departmental Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff were employed by her Department in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 4 April 2003, Official Report, column 891–92W.

Departmental Vets

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vets are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time by the Department.

Elliot Morley: The number of veterinary surgeons employed by the Department is as follows:
	Full time veterinary surgeons as at 1 April 2003—432
	Part time veterinary surgeons as at 1 April 2003—61
	The above numbers are calculated on a head count basis and include permanent, casual and fixed term appointments. The figures reflect the number of Veterinary staff employed by the State Veterinary Service (SVS), Veterinary Policy Directorate (VPD), Science Directorate (SD) and the Executive Agencies of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

Export Credit Guarantees

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the discussions her Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry with regard to reforming the Export Credit Guarantee scheme.

Michael Meacher: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has, since its creation, engaged continually in detailed discussions with the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD)—the Department responsible for export credits—with a view to ensuring that the provision of export credits takes full account of sustainability considerations. Discussions take place at both official and Ministerial levels.
	The outcome of ECGD's Mission and Status Review in 2000 provided the basis for this dialogue. Defra was then closely involved in the subsequent formulation of ECGD's Business Principles and was actively supportive of ECGD's efforts to finalise the OECD agreement on Common Approaches on the Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits . More recently, Defra has liaised closely with ECGD over revisions to that Department's Case Impact Analysis Process. Defra is consulted in detail on all cases which are dealt with under the Sensitive Cases procedure. Discussions are also taking place on how best to encourage export credit applications by UK renewables exporters.
	The most recent Ministerial discussion, between the Minister of State for the Environment and the Minister of State for International Trade and Investment, confirmed agreement on the following issues:
	That Defra and ECGD Ministers should meet whenever necessary to discuss both individual export credit cases and also broader issues of policy; That, in future, ECGD would normally expect to disclose details of High Potential Impact cases at least sixty days prior to making a decision on whether to provide support.
	Defra will continue to work closely with ECGD to ensure that the principles of sustainable development are reflected fully in the policies and operations of that Department.

Food Chain (Terrorist Threat)

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the current threat to the food chain from terrorism.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 25 March 2003
	The terrorist threat to the UK, including the threat to the food chain, is monitored very closely by the Government and we and the industry remain vigilant. Advice on any terrorist threat to the UK is the responsibility of the Security Service. The Director General of the Security Service is responsible to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary for this advice, which is provided on a continual basis. Strategic assessments about terrorist threats to the UK are provided to the Government by the Joint Intelligence Committee.

Food Chain (Terrorist Threat)

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent steps her Department has taken in conjunction with (a) other EU member states and (b) local authorities to prevent terrorist action against (i) agriculture and (ii) food supplies;
	(2)  what recent steps her Department has taken in conjunction with other EU member states to prevent terrorist action against European (i) agriculture and (ii) food supplies.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA is heavily engaged in the central government programme to improve civil contingency planning, especially in areas relating to our departmental responsibilities. Planning is developed and agreed with stakeholders, both in government and industry, including food and agriculture interests, to ensure that the UK's resilience to emergencies of all kinds, including possible terrorist action against the UK food chain, is improved.

Genetically Modified Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she and her officials have (a) telephoned and (b) written to the Royal Society during 2003 concerning publication of "The Farm Scale Evaluations with GM Crops"; and what was discussed.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 7 April 2003
	Officials from the Department have corresponded with the editor (one letter in August 2002), and subsequently with the commissioning editor (three emails and a phone call in 2002 and one email and a phone call in 2003) of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (Biological Sciences).
	Philosophical Transactions is a peer reviewed scientific journal devoted to themed issues on particular topics. Officials contacted the journal, on behalf of the Scientific Steering Committee, to inquire as to the procedure for proposing a themed issue devoted to papers reporting the results of the GM crop farm-scale evaluations. The appropriate number and structure of papers for such an issue was discussed. Officials also sought an indication of the timescale that the journal would anticipate between submission of the papers and publication, assuming the papers reached the required standard.
	On 27 February 2003 the Vice-President of the Royal Society wrote to the Secretary of State acknowledging that the farm-scale evaluation papers had been received from the research consortium and giving an indication of the likely timing of publication should the papers be accepted. The Secretary of State responded on 4 March 2003 thanking him for this information.

Halal and Shechita Slaughter

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to bring forward proposed reform of regulations governing halal and shechita slaughter; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Farm Animal Welfare Council (the Government's independent advisory body on farm animal welfare matters) is currently producing a report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter. We will consider the recommendations in their report after it has been published later this year.

Pay Review

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made with the pay review in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: In its response to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Task Force report, "Just Pay", the Government committed all Departments and agencies to review their pay systems by April 2003 and prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps.
	The position in Defra and its agencies is as follows:
	Defra
	Defra has undertaken an equal pay review in line with the guidance from the Cabinet Office. This has included the Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate, for which the core department has pay remit and negotiating responsibility.
	The review, which has now been completed, looked at not only gender issues, but also those of ethnicity and disability. The review's conclusions are shortly to be considered by senior management. Defra will report back to the Cabinet Office with an action plan by the end of April.
	Agencies
	Central Science Laboratory
	The Central Science Laboratory began an equal pay audit in Autumn 2002. An action plan has been prepared and is under discussion. The Central Science Laboratory aims to able to submit the action plan to the Cabinet Office by the end of April 2003.
	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
	An equal pay review has been carried out in the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and a draft report is being considered by senior management.
	Rural Payments Agency
	The Rural Payments Agency has carried out an equal pay review in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance and an interim report has been prepared. The full report is expected this month and will then be considered. Veterinary Laboratories Agency
	The Veterinary Laboratory Agency pay equality audit has been completed and an Action Plan sent to the Cabinet Office. Any action necessary will be considered within the pay negotiations for 2003.
	Non-departmental public bodies
	Non-departmental public bodies are not required to undertake an equal pay review by April 2003, although several have done so.

Poultry Industry

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the practice of debeaking in the poultry industry; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Generally beak trimming should only be carried out as a last resort when it is clear that more suffering would be caused in the flock if it were not done.
	There are, however, specific requirements for laying hens in Council Directive 99/74/EC. The Directive prohibits all mutilations, but permits member states to allow the beak trimming of birds that are less than 10 days old in order to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. We intend to take up this authorisation only until 31 December 2010, and have met interested parties, including the egg industry and breeders, to agree an action plan to achieve this aim.

Poultry Industry

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mortality rates were of poultry kept in (a) battery units, (b) enriched units and (c) alternative units in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 require poultry keepers to record mortality rates and have the records available for inspection. The State Veterinary Service uses the rates as an indicator of management practice on-farm. However, the figures are not recorded on a central database.

Pub is the Hub Schemes

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many 'Pub is the Hub' schemes have been sponsored by the Countryside Agency in (a) England, (b) the eastern region, (c) Suffolk and (d) the Bury St. Edmunds constituency.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency does not administer a specific 'Pub is the Hub' grant. A good practice guide of that title was published in December 2001 to inspire rural pubs to diversify their services. However, the Vital Villages Community Services Grant, administered by the Countryside Agency for Defra, can be used to fund 'Pub is the Hub' style projects. Since April 2001, there have been 24 funded pub schemes in England, of which four are in the eastern region, one in Suffolk and none in the constituency of Bury St. Edmunds.

Sea Fishing Strategy

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she expects to make public the first draft of the long term UK sea fishing strategy;
	(2)  what recent progress her Department has made in the production of a long-term strategy for the future of the UK sea fishing industry.

Elliot Morley: The fishing industry took on the task of developing a strategy through the Fish Industry Forum and in liaison with Government. A presentation on the state of play on that industry initiative was made to Fisheries Ministers in July 2002.
	As announced on 26 March, the Strategy Unit has been requested by the Prime Minister to develop a long-term strategy for a sustainable sea fishing industry in the UK: the final report is intended to be completed by the end of 2003.

Sea Levels (Bristol Bay)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has conducted on sea levels in the Bristol Bay area for the next 20 years.

Elliot Morley: Sea levels have been and will continue to be monitored in the Bristol Channel as a part of the National Tide Gauge Network, operated by Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) and funded by Defra.
	Tide gauges are monitoring sea levels constantly at the following sites, Mumbles, Newport, Avonmouth, Hinkley Point and Ilfracombe. The Environment Agency also monitor levels at West Quay Bridgwater for local operational reasons. This information is used to provide tidal predictions and for monitoring long term sea levels and relative land levels.
	Through analysis of the Tide Gauge data and information from global climate change modelling POL have made predictions of future trends in sea levels all round the UK. These have informed the recommended Defra allowance of 5 mm rise per year for this area of the coast that takes account of both sea and major land level movements. It is also compatible with a range of future scenarios published by Defra last year as part of the UK Climate Impacts Programme in "Climate Change Scenarios of the United Kingdom", copies of which can be found in the Libraries of both Houses.

Sheep

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the present system of sheep identification.

Elliot Morley: The present system of sheep identification was enhanced on 1 February 2003 in England and Wales. From that date, all sheep born after 1 February or still on the holding on which they were born and not yet marked, need to be individually identified with a tag or tattoo before they move or within one year of birth.

Sheep

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what representations she has received concerning sheep identification;
	(2)  what plans she has to implement in full the tagging system required by the EU for sheep identification.

Elliot Morley: We have received a number of representations expressing concern over the European Commission proposals on sheep and goat identification. We have raised these concerns with the Commission and said that any proposal to enhance the current EU rules should be workable, enforceable and proportionate to the disease risk. We shall continue to negotiate on that basis.

Shellfish

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what obstacles are delaying the introduction of a shellfish licensing scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I am delighted to be able to refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made announcing such a scheme on 3 April 2003, Official Report, column 69WS.

Slaughter Scheme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether all Slaughter Premium Scheme claims for 2002 have now been (a) settled and (b) paid.

Alun Michael: For the 2002 English Adult Animal Slaughter Premium Scheme, 57 per cent. of claims have been authorised for payment to date. 50 per cent. of claims have had advance payments made. No balance payments have been made.
	There is no EC deadline for advance payments, but balance payments have to be made by 30 June following the end of the scheme year.
	Those claims that are outstanding include ones that have either failed administrative checks or are subject to on-farm inspections. Agency staff are striving to complete work for 30 June in order to pay premium on eligible animals.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff are employed by her Department.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 4 April 2003, Official Report, columns 891–892W.

Sunset Clauses

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the sunset clauses included in legislation from her Department since 1997.

Alun Michael: Since June 2001 when Defra was formed, there has been no legislation containing sunset clauses.

Travel Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the costs was of travel by train by staff in her Department in 2002.

Alun Michael: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is this Department's policy that official travel should be undertaken only if it is essential to the Department's business and cannot reasonably be met in any other way (e.g. correspondence, e-mail, telephone or video conference). Where it is considered that official travel is justified then staff are expected to take account of business and financial needs as well as environmental considerations.

Waste Recycling

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for Buckinghamshire by (a) tonnage and (b) percentage the amount of waste disposal by (i) landfill, (ii) recycling and (iii) incineration in 2002.

Michael Meacher: The latest available data for municipal waste are taken from the 2000–01 Municipal Waste Management Survey. The data for Buckinghamshire are shown as follows.
	Tonnages and percentages of municipal waste for Buckinghamshire for 2000–01 are:
	Landfilled—193.6 thousand tonnes (76.5 per cent.)
	Recycled and composted—59.5 thousand tonnes (23.5 per cent.)
	Incinerated—0.2 thousand tonnes (< 0.5 per cent.)
	Survey data for 2002 are not yet available.

Waste Recycling

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) waste incineration plants and (b) landfill sites there were in Buckinghamshire in 2002.

Michael Meacher: (a) There were no waste incineration plants in Buckinghamshire in 2002.
	(b) There were 14 landfill sites in Buckinghamshire in 2002.

Waste Recycling

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of municipal mass burn incineration of waste upon levels of waste recycling; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Regulatory Impact Assessment of Waste Strategy 2000 (published in Annex C of part 2 of the strategy) assessed a variety of waste management scenarios and considered variables including different projections for waste growth, different mixes of waste management facilities, and differing levels of participation in recycling schemes. A similar exercise was carried out by the Strategy Unit and published in their "Waste Not, Want Not" report.
	Our policy on municipal waste incinerators or other energy from waste facilities is that they should be considered only where it can be shown that they are appropriately sized so that they would not "crowd out" recycling. Guidance issued by the Government for Private Finance Initiative includes the criterion:
	"proposals including incineration must demonstrate that all opportunities for recycling have been considered first and that there is no barrier to the future development of recycling. Schemes should include proposals for combined heat and power where possible."

Water Services

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the impact on low income families of the (a) pricing and (b) regulatory regime for water services.

Elliot Morley: The Department has reviewed the needs of low income families for concessions on their water bills as part of its review of the Vulnerable Groups Regulations. The proposals of this review are detailed in the consultation paper Reductions for Vulnerable Groups which was published in February 2003. Data from the DSS Family Resources Survey in the table shows the percentage of household income spent on water and sewerage services in England 1997–98 by income decile.
	Guidance to the Director General of Water Services, following the Water Industry Act 1999, confirmed that the Secretary of State was keen to encourage the development of innovative tariffs that can assist customers who may face difficulty paying their bills and stated that the Secretary of State expects flexible payment options to be offered to customers to assist with payment problems. The Water Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords, proposes that the new Water Services Regulation Authority and Consumer Council for Water should have regard to individuals with low incomes, when considering consumer interests.

DEFENCE

Advertising Campaigns

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns between April 2002 and March 2003; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to (a) television, (b) radio and (c) print media.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the Ministry of Defence's advertising and publicity costs are published in the annual Departmental Performance Report, broken down into categories of Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and civilian recruitment, PR, marketing and business support services, Chief of PR, sales promotion, scholarships and National Employers' Liaison Committee. Copies of these documents are placed in the Library of the House. The 2002–03 Departmental Performance Report is due to be published in the autumn and will include information on advertising and publicity costs although this may be in a different format due to the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting.

Anthrax

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of UK armed forces in the Gulf who were offered the anthrax inoculation refused it.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 4 April 2003
	According to centrally held records, as at 12 March 2003, some 56 per cent. of Service personnel offered vaccination against anthrax had accepted it. Information on immunisation against anthrax among Service personnel deployed to the Gulf is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Depleted Uranium

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which international conventions apply to the use of depleted uranium shells; and whether the UK is a signatory.

Adam Ingram: No conventions apply specifically to the use of depleted uranium shells. Their use is covered by the same provisions of international law that apply to all weapons.

Iraq

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the shipping industry on the ownership and operation of the deep water container port at Umm Qasr, Iraq.

Adam Ingram: None.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) British and (b) coalition forces have used (i) depleted uranium and (ii) cluster bombs in the war in Iraq; and in what circumstances.

Adam Ingram: With regard to the use of depleted uranium munitions, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 2 April 2003, Official Report, column 737W to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith).
	On the use of cluster bombs, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) during his statement to the House on 3 April 2003, Official Report, column 1075. Cluster bombs have been used against targets for which they were the most appropriate available weapon and where they could be used in accordance with international law, including with the principles of proportionality and discrimination.
	I am unable to comment on the use of DU munitions and cluster bombs by other coalition forces.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the purpose was of the United Kingdom troops attack on an electricity switching station in Basra on 23 March 2003; what was achieved; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the purpose was of the military action by allied forces on 23 March 2003 upon electricity installations in Basra; what was achieved; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: No such event occurred.

Iraq

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance has been given to UK forces operating in the no fly zone in southern Iraq on the holy places of the Shi'a in Nayjab and Kerbala.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 18 March 2003
	We are fully aware of the significance of the holy sites in Najaf and Karbala. The coalition is taking every precaution to respect and avoid damage to them.
	By contrast, we know from intelligence that Saddam Hussein has plans to damage the sites and to blame the coalition. There are precedents: in 1991, Iraq troops attacked and desecrated Imam Ali's shrine and destroyed religious libraries in Najaf; they shelled and desecrated Imam Hussein's shrine in Karbala; and the shrine of Imam Abbas was also reported damaged.
	The United Kingdom is fully committed to the protection of cultural property in times of armed conflict. The Government take very seriously its obligations to act in conformity with international law, the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. In all our military planning, very careful attention is applied to ensure that we minimise the risk of damage to all civilian sites.
	The targeting process during current operations is conducted in accordance with all obligations under international law, including Additional Protocol 1 of the Geneva Conventions, and the Targeting Directive to United Kingdom forces stationed in the Gulf contains explicit guidance on their obligations under international and domestic law. For reasons of force protection, I cannot comment on the specifics of our targeting policy, and I am therefore withholding that information under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Defence, security and international relations).
	In view of the continuing air operations against Iraq, No Fly Zone patrols have been rendered redundant. This does not mean that we have in any way reduced our humanitarian concerns for the Iraqi people. Our Servicemen and women have daily risked their lives enhancing the security of the civilian population for over a decade, and we will continue to demonstrate that commitment.

Military Activities (Animals)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals, by species, are employed by British services in the Gulf; and how many have been (a) injured and (b) killed as a result of military and other action to date.

Lewis Moonie: There are currently 25 dogs employed by United Kingdom forces in the Gulf. None has been injured or killed. A further seven dogs are to be deployed to the Gulf in the coming days.

Parcels (Weight Limits)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the weight limit is on parcels sent to British forces in the Gulf; what the weight limit was for (a) exercises and (b) operations in (i) Sierra Leone, (ii) Kosovo and (iii) the first Gulf War; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 1 April 2003
	There is no parcel service to the Gulf. As part of the Operational Welfare Package approved for this Operation, there is an airmail letter and packet service, subsidised so that it costs the same as United Kingdom inland first class post. The maximum weight of an airmail packet is 2 kg. In addition, Forces Free Air Letters ("Blueys"), e-blueys and an internet bulletin board are available, free of charge.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 2 April 2003, Official Report, column 912, to my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, North (Mrs. Adams).
	Exercises typically attract both a surface parcel service, up to a maximum weight of 30 kg, and an airmail letter and packet service with a maximum weight of 2 kg.
	The priorities to meet operational requirements differ from those to support exercises, with the result that there is much greater pressure on available transport capacity, as urgent equipment and stores have to be moved into theatre. The situation in theatre dictates that fewer airlines are willing to fly to local airports. As a result, there is normally no parcel service until pressure on transport capacity eases.

Pensions

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on interest payable on tax incorrectly deducted from armed forces pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has received representations from two ex-Service organisations, the Forces Pension Society and the Royal British Legion, and a small number of individuals affected. Those pensioners who have been found to have paid tax incorrectly have received from the Inland Revenue a refund of tax, and, in appropriate cases, the statutory repayment supplement. Officials are currently considering whether there is a case for any further payment to be made to compensate for the consequences of the error, and I would expect this work to be completed by the summer.

RAF Bases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers can be exercised by, and what rules of engagement apply to, the US National Guard in the event of unauthorised persons being found within RAF bases where the US National Guard is present.

Adam Ingram: Where American National Guards have been deployed on RAF bases made available to the United States Visiting Forces, they can exercise the same range of powers as all (United Kingdom and United States) Service personnel in dealing with unauthorised persons found within that base. For instance, although they do not have the powers of arrest, they may detain and hold such persons using the minimum force necessary, until a police officer, who has powers of arrest, arrives.
	It is not our practice to comment on Rules of Engagement and that information is withheld under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

RAF Bases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prosecutions under the RAF Menwith Hill byelaws have been (a) initiated, (b) subsequently dropped, (c) pursued unsuccessfully and (d) pursued successfully in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 November 2002, Official Report, columns 67–68W, which provided details of the number of police reports produced from 1996 to November 2002. The total number of reports with a view to prosecution prepared by the Ministry of Defence Police at RAF Menwith Hill during financial year 2002–03 was seven. Prosecutions are a matter for my noble and Learned Friend the Attorney General.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Lewis Moonie: The HMSO Statutory Instrument Registrar (siregistrar@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk) can provide a list of statutory instruments issued by individual Departments. Statutory instruments which have been originated by Departments but eventually made by the Privy Council Office, are only listed under the Privy Council Office. However, between 1 January 2002 and 31 March 2003, the Ministry of Defence issued the following eighteen statutory instruments:
	SI 2002/201—The Royal Marines Terms of Service Regulations 2002. This instrument amended Service regulations consequent to a previous Commencement Order.
	SIs 2002/229: 230 and 231—Three statutory instruments entitled Courts-Martial (Amendment) Rules. These instruments made amendments to court-martial rules in consequence of the Armed Forces Act 2001.
	SI 2002/345—Armed Force Act 2001 (Commencement No 2.) Order 2002 that commenced sections of the Armed Forces Act 2001.
	SI 2002/671—Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme (Extension) Order. This instrument continued in effect the Polish Forces pension scheme.
	SI 2002/672—Personnel Injuries (Civilians) Amendment Scheme 2002 updated the rate of pension payable to recipients.
	SI 2002/792—The Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement & Death) Service Pensions (Amendment) Order 2002 updated the rate of pension payable to recipients.
	SI 2002/719—ABRO Trading Fund Order 2002. An Order to give trading fund status.
	SI 2002/1417—Tax Credit (New Category of Child Care Provider) Regulations 2002. This instrument made a scheme for establishing a new category of persons whose charges for providing child care outside of the UK are to be taken into account for the purpose of determining working families' or disabled person's tax credit.
	SI 2002/1761—Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2002. This instrument provided protection to military remains in various vessels and sites.
	SI 2002/1820—The Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order 2002. An annual Order to continue in force the three Service Discipline Acts.
	SI 2002/3122—The Service Departments Registers (Amendment) Order 2002. This instrument updated the Service Departments Registers Order 1959.
	SI 2003/105—ABRO Trading Fund (Amendment) Order 2003. This Order made an amendment to SI 2002/719.
	SI 2003/405—Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) (Amendment) Order 2003. Needed to correct a geographical error in SI 2002/1761.
	SI 2003/434—The Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc (Disablement & Death) Service Pensions (Amendment) Order 2003 updated the rate of pension payable to recipients.
	SI 2003/637—Personnel Injuries (Civilians) Amendment Scheme 2002 updated the rate of pension payable to recipients.
	SI 2003/786—Air Force Act 1955 (Part 1) Regulations 2001 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 updated previous Service Regulations not required to be made by statutory instruments.
	Any costs to public funds arising from the above instruments are minimal. As the MOD is not a regulatory body there are few, if any, costs to businesses and individuals. Any cost relating to instruments made by MOD are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Travel Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of travel by train by staff in his Department in 2002.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that its staff should use the most efficient and economic means of travel commensurate with meeting the Department's operational needs. To deliver this commitment, travel by rail is co-ordinated, managed and negotiated centrally within the MOD. Central negotiations are undertaken with the Association of Train Operating Companies and the MOD secures contracts for discounted travel. The resulting expenditure, after the MOD discount, for the financial year just ended April 2002 to March 2003, was £33,604,837. This figure is provisional and subject to final audit.

War Graves

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the French Government regarding the desecration of Commonwealth war graves.

Lewis Moonie: No war graves were desecrated in the incident which took place at Etaples Military Cemetery south of Boulogne on the night of 26 to 27 March 2003. However, anti-British and American graffiti were sprayed on the central memorial in the cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, who are responsible for the cemetery which contains the graves of nearly 11,000 British and Commonwealth graves from the two World Wars, took immediate action to remove the paint.
	The Department made no representations to the French Government, but on 3 April 2003 the French President wrote an apology to The Queen, expressing France's regret and condemning the shameful desecration of the cemetery. Also on that day there was a simple wreath-laying ceremony at Etaples attended by the French Secretary of State for War Veterans, together with the British Consul General and the British Naval Attaché in Paris. The French Government and the people of Etaples were greatly embarrassed by this regrettable incident and acted with commendable speed to condemn those individuals who carried out this shameful deed.

Water Abstraction Boreholes

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury on 7 February 2003, Official Report, column 466W, on water abstraction boreholes, what the daily abstraction rate is from (a) all 24 boreholes, (b) the emergency borehole when in use, (c) the largest volume borehole and (d) the smallest volume borehole.

Lewis Moonie: The abstraction rate from individual boreholes has security implications and I am therefore withholding it under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	For all the boreholes within the scope of Project Aquatrine in the Salisbury Plain area (either in use, inactive or emergency), the daily average total abstraction rate is approximately 10,169m 3 .

TREASURY

Hospital Acquired Infections

Liam Fox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were recorded as having died from a hospital acquired or secondary infection in each year since 1997; and what percentage of recorded deaths this represented in each case

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Liam Fox, dated 8 April 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people were recorded as having died from a hospital acquired or secondary infection in each year since 1997; and what percentage of recorded deaths this represented in each case. (107729)
	It is not possible to give reliable figures on the number of deaths involving hospital-acquired infections from routinely collected mortality data, as information on where the infection was acquired may not be available to the doctor certifying the death.

Solidarity Fund (Spain)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the impact on the UK's gross contributions to the EU Budget of a successful application by Spain to the Solidarity Fund following the Prestige disaster;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of Spain's application to the Solidarity Fund to defray the costs of clean-up after the Prestige disaster.

Ruth Kelly: No representations on this matter have been received by HM Treasury. Applications for assistance from the EUSF are assessed by the commission in the first instance.

Third-World Debt

Simon Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of third world debt owed to the UK is debt owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

John Healey: Of the total debt currently owed to the UK Government by developing countries over 95 per cent. is owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department. The key reason for this high percentage of commercial credits is that Official Development Assistance provided by the UK normally takes the form of grants as compared with concessional loans so there is little debt owed to the UK other than amounts owed to ECGD.
	The UK is at the forefront of the debate on international debt relief and participates fully in the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative agreed at Cologne in 1999 that makes provision for the cancellation of around US$100 billion of debt. Moreover, the UK goes beyond the terms agreed under the HIPC initiative and always provides 100 per cent. debt relief. So for the 26 countries that have reached Decision Point in the HIPC initiative the UK is providing 100 per cent debt relief.
	In addition, for those HIPCs yet to reach Decision Point the UK operates a unilateral 'Hold-in-Trust' policy. For these countries yet to secure debt relief because of conflict, civil unrest or the absence of a poverty reduction programme, any debt payments made are held in trust until they can be returned to fund poverty reduction.

UN Sanctions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has for (a) enforcing UN sanctions against Iraqi assets held in London and (b) confiscating the assets of the Rafidain Bank and its shareholdings in the British Arab Commercial Bank;
	(2)  under what circumstances British companies would be prevented from making payments to Iraqi directors.

Paul Boateng: The UK has strictly enforced the terms of UNSCR 661 since it was passed in August 1990. This has required all Iraqi assets held in the UK, including those of Rafidain Bank, to be frozen.
	Neither UNSCR 661 nor the domestic legislation that implements it allows for the confiscation of assets.
	Under the Iraq sanctions order, which implements UNSCR 661, all payments to residents of Iraq are prohibited, except under license from HM Treasury.

Unemployment (Harwich)

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the unemployment figures were in the Harwich constituency in each year since 1996.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Ivan Henderson, dated 8 April 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on what the unemployment figures were in the Harwich constituency in each year since 1996. (107711)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from surveys following the international standard International Labour Organisation definition. However the survey sample size is too small to provide estimates for the Harwich Parliamentary Constituency. ONS also compiles claimant count statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance.
	The attached table gives the annual average number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in the Harwich Parliamentary Constituency for the years 1996 to 2002.
	
		Annual average level number of claimants in the Harwich Parliamentary Constituency for the year 1996 to 2002
		
			 Year Levels 
		
		
			 1996 3,669 
			 1997 2,654 
			 1998 2,276 
			 1999 1,987 
			 2000 1,775 
			 2001 1,493 
			 2002 1,449

Barnett Formula

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made to the Barnett formula in the last five years.

Paul Boateng: Details of the Barnett formula used in the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review were published by the Treasury in the Statement of Funding Policy in 1999. This was subsequently updated in July 2000 and July 2002. The main changes have been that the population figures have been updated to reflect latest ONS estimates and the comparability factors (which measure the extent to which UK Departments' spending programmes are comparable in the devolved Administrations), have been updated where necessary.

Barnett Formula

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was allocated to Scotland under the Barnett formula in each of the last three years.

Paul Boateng: The Barnett formula is used to determine the Scottish Executive's Departmental Expenditure Limit, which is £20.4 billion in 2003–04, £19 billion in 2002–03 and £17.6 billion in 2001–02, as set out in Table B15 of the Pre-Budget Report, November 2002 (Cm 5664).

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which companies have imported garments from Burma in the past two financial years.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise is the Department responsible for collecting and recording statistics on the movement of goods between the UK and other countries. The specific information requested is not available. Exemption 13 (third party's commercial confidences) of the Open Government Code applies.

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what percentage of illegal narcotics intercepted on entry to the UK are believed to have originated in Burma, broken down by type of narcotic;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of illegal narcotics available in the UK believed to have originated from Burma.

John Healey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 205W.

Departmental Accommodation

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department owns (a) the Debt Management Office accommodation at Cheapside House, 138 Cheapside, London, and (b) the Office of Government Commerce accommodation at Fleetbank House, 2–6 Salisbury Square, London; what the market value of each property is; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The UK DMO has not occupied 138 Cheapside, London since July 2001. The accommodation at 138 Cheapside is not owned by any Government organisation. With reference to the UK DMO present office at Eastcheap Court, London, it is not owned, but the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors are leased by the UK DMO.
	The accommodation at Fleetbank House 2–6 Salisbury Square, London formerly occupied by the Office of Government Commerce, is not owned by the Department.

Departmental Accommodation

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many local tax offices are owned by the Inland Revenue; what plans there are to sell them; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are currently no local tax offices owned by the Inland Revenue.

EDS

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of total payments to EDS (a) to date and (b) over the 10-year contract for services provided under its Strategic Partnership Contract; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimate of total payments to EDS are:
	(a) To date
	Based on 2002 prices the total payments to date are £2.2 billion excluding capital and £2.5 billion including capital.
	(b) Over the 10-year contract for services
	The estimated total value of the 10-year contract in 2002 prices is £2.6 billion excluding capital and £2.9 billion including capital.

Enterprise Areas

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list enterprise areas as announced in Enterprise Britain (November 2002) by (a) ward and (b) local authority area.

John Healey: Around 2,000 enterprise areas benefit from a package of measures, including exemptions from stamp duty, the Small Business Service Incubation Fund, the Community Investment Tax Credit, the Community Development Venture Fund and wider assistance from Inland Revenue Business Support Teams. These measures are targeted to support regeneration through enterprise in the most deprived areas of the UK. A full list of the areas, including the relevant local authority, is contained in the Stamp Duty (Disadvantaged Areas) Regulations 2001, which came into force on 30 November 2001. The Regulations are available in the House Library and are publicly available on the Inland Revenue website.

HIPC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals for strengthening the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative he will bring forward at the Spring Meetings of (a) the World Bank and (b) the International Monetary Fund.

John Healey: At the forthcoming Spring Meetings the UK will continue to promote a flexible approach to the additional debt relief or 'topping-up' that may be provided at Completion Point to ensure that countries that have had to contend with exogenous shocks benefit from a lasting exit from unsustainable debt. The UK will be seeking agreement that the calculation of topping-up should exclude the additional bilateral voluntary debt relief, to ensure fairer burden sharing among creditors and provide truly additional relief to HIPCs.
	The UK will also be putting forward proposals to encourage greater creditor participation in the HIPC Initiative.
	However, even the provision of 100 per cent. debt relief to all low-income countries would still fall short of the resources needed to meet the Millennium Development Goals. This is why the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development have proposed an International Finance Facility (IFF) that would seek to double the amount of development aid from just over US$50 billion a year today to $100 billion per year in the years to 2015. The IFF could also be used to help fund further debt relief for existing debts, which for some poor and indebted countries is a valuable instrument to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

HIPC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he supports proposals for the lifting of the IMF's structural requirements on heavily indebted poor countries.

John Healey: The UK believes that structural reforms should focus on poverty reduction and strongly promotes the streamlining of IMF conditionality. The IMF, with the creation of Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) has been further improving its support to low-income countries. Conditionality has been reduced and streamlined, focusing on key areas of IMF responsibility; further progress has been made in supporting poverty and social impact analysis of key reforms and improved public expenditure management. The IMF is also discussing further improvements in, and increasing alignment of, the PRGF and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).
	To reach Completion Point in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative countries must develop a full PRSP, and meet key conditions (or Completion Point triggers), these conditions may include structural reforms that support the country's strategy for reducing poverty. The UK supports this internationally agreed policy which helps ensure that resources provided through debt relief are used to reduce poverty and create the conditions necessary for economic growth.
	The Government acknowledges that debt relief is not a panacea for broader economic development problems; even the provision of 100 per cent. debt relief to all low-income countries would still fall short of the resources needed to meet Millennium Development Goals. That is why the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development have proposed an International Finance Facility (IFF) that would seek to double the amount of development aid from just over US$50 billion a year today to $100 billion per year in the years to 2015.

HIPC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions applying to poor countries seeking to benefit from the International Finance Facility will be included in the Facility.

John Healey: The proposed International Finance Facility would seek to double aid for the world's poorest countries from US$50 billion a year today to $100 billion a year up to 2015. It provides an opportunity to build on current improvements in the way aid is managed.
	The IFF would seek to disburse funds through existing effective bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, which set out their own conditions to ensure that aid is used effectively.

HIPC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to support an explicit link between debt relief for poor countries and the achievement of Millennium Development Goals.

John Healey: The UK Government is committed to helping achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The Government supports the conclusion of the United Nations Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey, Mexico that future reviews of debt sustainability should bear in mind the impact of debt relief on progress towards the achievement of the MDGs.
	Debt relief will provide vital finance to help achieve the MDGs, but if overall aid resources were unevenly allocated in favour of debt relief, fewer resources would be available to finance poverty reduction in other countries perhaps equally poor but not highly indebted. It is important to maintain equity between the two thirds of low-income countries that are highly indebted and the other third that are not.
	The Government acknowledges that debt relief is not a panacea for broader economic development problems; even the provision of 100 per cent. debt relief to all low-income countries would still fall short of the resources needed to meet the MDGs. That is why the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development have proposed an International Finance Facility (IFF) that would seek to double the amount of development aid from just over US$50 billion a year today to $100 billion per year in the years to 2015.

Inland Revenue

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue staff administer the enterprise area stamp duty exemption; and what their total employment costs are in the current financial year.

John Healey: Claims for the relief from stamp duty in disadvantaged areas are processed by Inland Revenue staff alongside all other stamp duty cases, and inquiries are dealt with alongside all other queries by staff at the national Stamp Taxes Enquiry Line.

Movie Star Cafe, Belfast

Martin Smyth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the owner of the Movie Star Cafe, Belfast met his obligations as an employer with regard to (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) National Insurance and (c) the Minimum Wage, in relation to the female foreign nationals who were discovered by the Immigration Service in Belfast on 18 December 2002.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's responsibilities include collecting National Insurance and enforcing the National Minimum Wage obligations. Because of the Inland Revenue's strict rules of confidentiality, details in respect of specific cases cannot be prodded.

Opinion Polling

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of the ICM polling reproduced in his Department's press release 41/03 of 26 March; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The ICM poll referred to was carried out between 8 and 12 January 2003. 1,000 adults were interviewed by telephone and the results included the finding that two-thirds of people interviewed believed that all support for children should be paid to the mother. The cost of the research is commercially confidential.

Statutary Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Dawn Primarolo: The HMSO SI Registrar (Siregistrar@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk) can provide a list of statutory instruments that have been issued by individual Government Departments. SIs which have been originated by Departments but eventually made by the Privy Council are only listed under the Privy Council Office. Many of the SIs introduced were of a routine nature, for example approving annual fee increases.
	The costs associated with regulatory proposals are considered at the policy development stage. A regulatory impact assessment is completed for regulatory proposals unless there are no or negligible costs. HM Treasury, HM Customs and HM Inland Revenue have produced twenty full/final regulatory impact assessments in this period. These RIAs listed below are available from the House Libraries and are available on departmental websites:
	Custom and Excise RIAs
	VAT Flat Rate Scheme and Changes to the Annual Accounting Scheme; Oils Fraud Strategy. HMT RIAs
	The money laundering regulations 2001; The protection of the euro against counterfeiting regulations 2001; Financial Services and Markets Act 2002 (administration orders relating to insurers) Order 2002; E-commerce directive; Fourth motor insurance directive; Electric communication for building societies; Amending the Credit Unions Act 1997.
	Inland Revenue RIAs
	ISAS—Simplified Voiding for Investor Error; Tax Law Rewrite Project—Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Bill; The New Tax Credits; National Insurance Contributions Bill; Fuel Scale Charge; Reform of the Taxation of Intangible Assets; Construction Industry Scheme Research and Development Tax Credits for Large Companies/Vaccines Research Relief; Exemptions for Gains and Losses on Substantial Shareholdings; Reform of the Corporate Debt, Financial Instruments and Foreign Exchange Gains and Losses Regimes; Community Amateur Sports Club.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families eligible for the full children's tax credit during 2002–03 are expected to be (a) on the second withdrawal rate for the child tax credit and (b) ineligible for the child tax credit because their earnings are too high.

Dawn Primarolo: No reliable estimates exist.

Travel Insurance

Clive Efford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, columns 677–78W, on insurance, if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of complaints about travel insurance from customers sold their policies by (a) tour operators and (b) travel agents and insurance companies;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, columns 677–78W, on insurance, if he will provide an interim answer on representations he has received regarding regulation of the sale of travel insurance;
	(3)  pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, columns 677–78W, on insurance, if he will include in his response to the report from the Financial Services Authority a requirement upon companies selling travel insurance to itemise charges made to the customer and the cover purchased at the time of purchase;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the benefits to consumers of having different systems of regulation for the sale of travel insurance by (a) tour operators and travel agents and (b) insurance companies;
	(5)  what measures he intends to take to ensure that consumers are protected from the mis-selling of travel insurance by travel agents and tour operators;
	(6)  what steps he will take to bring the sale of travel insurance by travel agents and tour operators within the scope of the Financial Services Authority regulations;
	(7)  what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Association of British Tour Operators code certified by the Financial Services Authority will protect consumers from the mis-selling of travel insurance by travel agents and tour operators.

Ruth Kelly: The Government's consultation document 'Regulating Insurance Mediation' sets out three options in respect of travel insurance sold as part of a package—Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulation; no regulation; and industry specific regulation where sellers of travel products would be required to be authorised by the FSA unless they are subject to an Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) code.
	In taking our decision, we have to strike the right balance between the perceived benefits of creating a level playing field for firms selling the same product, together with evidence of consumer detriment, for example in the number of complaints, against the perceived regulatory costs placed on travel agents for whom travel insurance forms a very small part of turnover, and the numbers of travel policies sold.
	I will announce my decision about the regulation of travel insurance sold as a package with a holiday, together with the other aspects of the consultation on insurance mediation, in the second quarter of the year. Information received in respect of complaints will be included in the summary of responses that will be placed in the Library at the time of the announcement.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Deaths in Custody

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor General when the Department expects to publish its findings following the examination of issues relating to deaths in custody; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney General continues to be actively engaged in completing his review of the prosecution process in cases arising from a death in custody, and expects to be able to publish a statement in the next few weeks.

Mrs. Sally Clark

George Osborne: To ask the Solicitor General pursuant to her answer of 7 February 2003, Official Report, column 467W, on Mrs. Sally Clark, if she will make a statement on the implications for the Crown Prosecution Service of the case of Mrs. Sally Clark.

Harriet Harman: The Court of Appeal has not yet given its detailed judgment in the case of Sally Clark. I will consider whether further investigation into the handling of the case by the Crown Prosecution Service is appropriate and assess the implications of the case for the CPS when I have had the opportunity to study the full Court of Appeal judgment. It would be premature to make such an assessment at this stage.

TRANSPORT

Airline Industry

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the airline industry with regard to the potential impact on their business plans of the conflict in Iraq.

David Jamieson: My officials are in regular contact with UK airlines over a range of issues including the effects on civil aviation of the conflict in Iraq.

Bicycle Safety

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bicycle accidents were reported in the Greater London area in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

David Jamieson: The following table shows the number of personal injury accidents in which a pedal cyclist was involved in London (2000–02).
	
		
			 Year Accidents 
		
		
			 2000 3,579 
			 2001 3,377 
			 2002 3,101 
		
	
	Source:
	Transport for London

Blackpool-Fleetwood Tram

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has made of proposals for the redevelopment of the Blackpool-Fleetwood tram.

David Jamieson: We are still considering Blackpool council's detailed proposals for the refurbishment of their tram system.

Central Railway Project

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he last met representatives of the Strategic Rail Authority to discuss the Central Railway project;
	(2)  what meetings have taken place this year between Ministers in his Department and representatives of Central Railway plc; what further meetings are planned; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 7 April 2003
	Officials in the SRA and DfT have held a number of discussions with Central Railway. The Secretary of State has met representatives of Central Railway on one occasion.

CO2 Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his ministerial statement of 1 April 2003, on road improvements, what change in (a) road miles per year and (b) carbon dioxide emissions per year he estimates will result from the road-building proposals set out in the statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 4 April 2003
	Three new additions to the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements were announced by the Secretary of State on 1 April. These are A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwhistle Bypass, A14 Ellington—Fen Ditton Improvement and A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement.
	The A57/A628 and A14 schemes are expected to relieve the local road networks of traffic which is currently using those routes to avoid the trunk roads. This should result in a reduction of 9.125 million vehicle miles per year on local roads in the vicinity of the A57/A628 and 2.875 million vehicle miles per year on local roads around the A14. However an increase of up to 40 per cent. is expected in the traffic on the A628 corridor from induced traffic using the new bypass.
	There is no reason to suggest that there will be a significant increase in road miles at A45/A46 Tollbar End as this is a junction improvement.
	With regard to carbon dioxide emissions, there will be a reduction in noise and pollution in the villages near and along the A628 and those near the A14, although an increase in emissions is predicted on all the improved roads because of induced traffic and normal traffic growth.
	There will be an increase of 14,068 tonnes per year of carbon dioxide emissions on A57/A628 Mottram, Hollingworth and Tintwhistle Bypass, 4,835 tonnes per year on A14 Ellington—Fen Ditton and 5,604 tonnes per year at A45/A46 Tollbar End.

Driving Licences

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will bring forward the proposed DVLA proof of identity scheme.

David Jamieson: We intend to make an announcement about the future of the vehicle registration and licensing system in due course.

EU Directives

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on Transport. Since 17 April 2002, the Department for Transport has led on the implementation of 14 Directives:
	Commission Directive 2001/63/EC of 17 August 2001 adapting to technical progress Directive 97/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery.
	Council Directive 1999/63/EC of 21 June 1999 concerning the Agreement on the organisation of working time of seafarers concluded by the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) and the Federation of Transport Workers' Unions in the European Union (FST)—Annex: European Agreement on the organisation of working time of seafarers.
	Directive 1999/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 concerning the enforcement of provisions in respect of seafarers' hours of work on board ships calling at community ports.
	Directive 2001/100/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 December 2001 amending Council Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states on measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles (1).
	Directive 2001/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 relating to heating systems for motor vehicles and their trailers, amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC and repealing Council Directive 78/548/EEC.
	Directive 2001/92/EC of 30 October 2001 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 92/22/EEC on safety glazing and glazing materials on motor vehicles and their trailers and Council Directive 70/156/EEC relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers.
	Directive 2001/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 amending Council Directive 92/23/EEC relating to tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and to their fitting.
	Directive 2001/85/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2001 relating to special provisions for vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and amending Directives 70/156/EEC and 97/27/EC.
	Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in community.
	Commission Directive 2002/78/EC of 1 October 2002 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 71/320/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to the braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and their trailers.
	Commission Directive 2001/1 I/EC of 14 February 2001 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 96/96/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers—functional testing of commercial vehicles' speed limitation device.
	Commission Directive 2002/25/EC of 5 March 2002 amending Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships.
	Commission Directive 2001/9/EC of 12 February 2001 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 96/96/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.
	Directive 2002/75/EC of 2 September 2002 amending Council Directive 96/98/EC on marine equipment.
	EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some Regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. As far as we have been able to verify, there have been no Regulations implemented by the Department for Transport since 17 April 2002.

HGV Drivers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of projected demand for additional HGV drivers in the UK; and what measures he will introduce to counter skill shortages in this area.

David Jamieson: My officials are in contact with the industry to address the issue of demand for drivers. Under the Government's Road Haulage Modernisation Fund, over £7 million has been allocated for training initiatives to help the industry meet its future labour and skills needs. The measures aim to recruit more young people to the industry, develop a UK specification lorry driver training simulator and will look at ways of protecting employer investment in training. The Modernisation Fund is intended as a pump-priming initiative and the industry must achieve a self-sustaining position where operators recruit, train and retain staff in sufficient numbers and with the relevant skills to support their future needs.

Pay Review

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the pay review in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Following the Government's response to the Equal Opportunity Commission Task Force 'Just Pay' report, all Departments and agencies are committed to reviewing their pay systems by April 2003 and to prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps. The Cabinet Office has issued guidance to assist in these reviews. The Department for Transport and its agencies are on course to complete the reviews by the end of April. NDPBs were not formally covered by the commitment, but they are undertaking reviews as a matter of good practice.

Potters Bar Derailment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive a further report from the Health and Safety Executive regarding the Potters Bar derailment; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive have advised that the Potters Bar Investigation Board intends to publish its next progress report shortly.

Public Sector Pensions

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) funded and (b) unfunded public sector pension schemes for which his Department, its agencies and its non-departmental public bodies are responsible; when the last actuarial valuation was of each scheme; what the value was of the assets at the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; what deficit is disclosed by the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The following lists the pension schemes, with other requested information, for which the Secretary of State for Transport is responsible.
	
		
			 Pension scheme/section Designated employer Last actuarial valuation Valuation result 
		
		
			 Funded
			 Railways pension scheme (RPS) 1994 pensioners section Secretary of State for Transport 31 December 2001 Assets £4,917 million—Deficit of £127 met from release of relevant amount from Special Reserve Fund in the section assets 
			 RPS—ex BR section Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 2001 Assets £57.3 million— Surplus of £4.7 million  
			 RPS—ex OPRAF section Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 2001 Assets £8.3 million—Deficit of £2.3 million 
			 British Transport Police Force superannuation fund Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 1999 (valuation pending) Assets £562.6 million—Surplus of £80.7 million  
			 British Railways superannuation fund Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 2001 Assets £449 million—Surplus of £51 million  
			 Great Western Railway supplemental pensions reserve fund Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 2001 Assets £56.4 million—Surplus of £6.5 million 
			 Great Western Railway Inspectors' and foremen's special pension fund Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 2000 Assets £0.224 million—Surplus of £0.117 million 
			 Great Northern Railway superannuation fund Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 2000 Assets £600—Deficit £4,300 
			 Great Western Railway salaried staff widows' and orphans' pension society Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 2000 Assets £11.2 million—No surplus/deficit 
			 London and North Western Provident society for providing pensions for widows and orphans of salaried staff Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 1999 (valuation pending) Assets £1.3 million—Surplus of £0.1 million  
			 Civil Aviation Authority pension scheme (CAAPS)—Civil Aviation Authority section Civil Aviation Authority 31 March 2001 Assets £1,747 million—Surplus of £129 million 
			 LRT pension fund London Transport (TfL also participate) 31 March 2000 Assets £3,744 million—Surplus of £46 million 
			 National Ports Council pension scheme Secretary of State for Transport 30 June 2002 Assets £9.12—Surplus of £2.015 million 
		
	
	
		
			 Pension scheme/section Designated employer Valuation of liabilities Valuation result 
		
		
			 Unfunded
			 BR (1974) fund [Customary Practices and BTC (Male Wages Grades) arrangements] Strategic Rail Authority 31 December 1998 (valuation pending) Liabilities £3.9 million, met from Government support payments under Part III, Transport Act 1980 (in respect of pre-1974 liabilities of BR) and contributions from former employers within the British Transport Commission 
			 Commissioners of Irish Lights pension scheme Commission of Irish Lights 31 March 2002 Liabilities of £63 million 
			 Northern Lighthouse pension scheme Northern Lighthouse Board 31 March 2002 Liabilities of £47.3 million 
			 Trinity House Lighthouse service pension scheme Trinity House 3 March 2002 Liabilities of £100.3 million

Railways

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the short listing of railway operating companies for the Greater Anglia franchise; and if he will take action to reinstate First Great Eastern's application.

David Jamieson: holding answer 7 April 2003
	It is for the SRA to shortlist applications for franchises, subject to the Directions and Guidance issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Railways

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he expects to make a decision on the level of rail freight grants to be provided to the industry in 2004–05;
	(2)  what assessment he will make of the environmental impact of the Strategic Rail Authority's decision to suspend new grant awards to the rail freight industry for 2003.

David Jamieson: No assessment has been made of the environmental impact on the suspension of new grants awards under the Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA's) Freight Facilities Grant Scheme. The SRA's Strategic Plan provides an indicative budget of £20 million for freight Facilities Grants and £20 million for Track Access Grants for 2004–05.

Railways

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding arrangements have been made as a part of the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan 2003 to provide for Edinburgh to London Euston rail services.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority is consulting on its West Coast Main Line Strategy, which will be published later this year. One of the options which is being considered, and on which local stakeholders' views are being canvassed, is the possibility of operating direct services from Edinburgh to London Euston either via Glasgow or via Motherwell. If such services came into existence, they would be part of the West Coast franchise. Accordingly, they would be funded under the normal arrangements for that franchise.

Railways

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what performance indicators are in place to ensure that personal security issues and measures for rail travel are tackled satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Secure Station and the Secured Car Park Schemes are the two benchmark schemes for reducing crime and the fear of crime in the railway environment. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has an obligation in its Directions and Guidance set by the Secretary of State to encourage accreditation under both award schemes.
	The SRA published its new franchising policy in November 2002. This includes the development of key-performance indicators relating to personal safety and security in the railway environment.

Railways

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to require future editions of the annual report on Railway Safety to incorporate all known data and performance measures on the (a) personal security of passengers and (b) outcomes of action taken.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Annual Report on Railway Safety only covers data recorded under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR). Information on the personal security of passengers and members of the public is not reportable under RIDDOR. However, the railway industry's own safety body, the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) (formerly Railway Safety) publish data and performance information on the personal security of passengers and members of the public in their Annual Safety Performance Report. In addition, the British Transport Police publish an annual Statistical Bulletin that includes data on all reported crimes on the railways in accordance with Home Office instructions and standards.

Road Improvements

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bodies were consulted before he decided not to proceed with (a) the A556M and (b) the improvement to Junction 20 of the M6.

David Jamieson: The Environmental Statutory bodies and the North West Regional Assembly, together with a steering group of local stakeholders consisting of the local highway authority, the freight transport association; CPRE and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities were consulted on the Highways Agency's A556 Area Study, which considered both the A556 and Junction 20 of the M6.

Road Improvements

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department last met (i) the Association of Greater Manchester councils, (ii) the Council for the Protection of Rural England, (iii) the North West Regional Assembly, (iv) Cheshire county council and (v) Macclesfield borough council to discuss options for alleviating congestion on the A556.

David Jamieson: Officers from the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA), Cheshire county council, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities were members of the steering group of local stakeholders on the A556 Area Study. They were kept fully informed of developments throughout the study period from February to September 2002. Macclesfield borough council was informed of the study outcome through a meeting with the NWRAfs Key Priorities Group in September 2002.

Travel Concessions

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total annual cost of extending a national half-fare travel concession to all young people aged (a) 14 to 16, (b) 14 to 18 and (c) 14 to 21 would be.

David Jamieson: It is estimated that to cover the cost of extending half-fare travel concessions on local buses at all times to young people aged between 16 and 19 would be in excess of £180 million per year. Further information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Travel Concessions

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) total annual cost and (b) annual cost to central Government is in 2003 of extending the national half-fare travel concession to men aged 60–65.

David Jamieson: The total annual cost of extending existing concessionary travel schemes to cover men aged 60–64 is put at £50 million, including those schemes which are more generous than the statutory minimum half-fare requirement. That amount has been provided by central Government in the local government finance settlement 2003–04. It is estimated that extending the statutory minimum half-fare travel concession to men aged 60–64 would have cost about £30 million.

Travel Concessions

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much is being provided by the Government to (a) the London borough of Redbridge, (b) the London borough of Waltham Forest and (c) all local authorities to help fund the travel concessions for men aged 60 to 65; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We have provided an extra £50 million in the local government finance settlement 2003–04 to cover the additional cost of concessionary travel for men aged 60–64 in England. This amount is distributed by Formula Spending Shares in the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block, which take into account various factors such as deprivation and population density and sparsity. Because the distribution of this £50 million was considered alongside other costs falling on local authorities in deriving the formulae, it is not possible to provide a meaningful FSS allocation for individual authorities.

Websites

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the (a) cost of and (b) number of visitors to each website operated by his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible in each year since its establishment.

David Jamieson: For details of the cost of my Department's main web site (www.dft.gov.uk), I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 25 March 2003, Official Report, column 119W.
	During the period 1 July (when individual statistics were first available for my Department's web site) to 31 March 2003 the total number of page impressions was 13,881,841.
	Calculation of the cost of, and the number of page impressions for, every web site operated by my Department, each agency and non-departmental public body for which my Department is responsible could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Working Hours

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what policy on (a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible.

David Jamieson: In the Department and most of its agencies and NDPBs staff are required to work a 36 hour week in London and 37 hour week out of London. Core hours vary according to business need, but are usually between 10am and 4pm.
	Staff may agree with their line managers to operate flexible working hours. This system normally requires staff to be in the office between 10am and 12 noon and from 2pm to 4pm, although there are regional variations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Employment Act

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to monitor and review section 47 of the Employment Act 2002 on flexible working arrangements for employees with family responsibilities.

Alan Johnson: The Government will start to review the impact of the new law relating to flexible working for eligible parents, three years after its introduction on 6 April 2003.
	To ensure that we have a sound evidence base for this review, we have recently carried out two extensive baseline surveys of employers and employees. The results are currently being analysed and the detailed findings will be published in the summer of 2003. Provisional executive summaries of the headline results are available on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/ workingparents. We plan to repeat these surveys in 2006 so that we can directly assess the changes in the availability of flexible working provisions.
	In addition to this research, we intend to repeat the Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS), which was last carried out in 1998. We expect headline findings to be available in 2005 with full publication in 2006. This will provide a comprehensive overview of workplace practices before and after the new working parents legislation. We will also be involving our key stakeholders in the monitoring process, receiving ongoing feedback and building their experiences into our assessment of the new law.

Liberian Timber

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 24 March 2003, Official Report, column 33W, if she will take steps to prevent Liberian timber being sold in the UK.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The UN imposed sanctions on Liberia as a result of the Liberian Government's complicity in fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone. Liberia remains a serious threat to the stability of the sub-region. We believe sanctions should be maintained until Liberia stops its destabilising efforts in the region and meets in full the demands of the UN Security Council.
	We share the concern of the UN Panel of Experts that the revenues from timber sales are being used to fund arms purchases in breach of UN sanctions. In resolution 1408(2002) the UN Security Council called on the Government of Liberia to undertake the audit of shipping and timber revenues and to use the revenues from the timber trade for social, development and humanitarian purposes.
	We have played a leading role in trying to restrict the Government of Liberia's sanction-busting activities. We will be calling for the Council to examine all sources of revenue, including timber sales, used to make arms purchases, and to consider ways of addressing the problem in order to prevent the Liberian regime from making illicit arms purchases.
	The Government support the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) process, which calls on all African governments and trading partners to take action to control illegal activities in the logging sector and associated trade. The UK will be represented at an AFLEG conference in April 2003 to push this process forward.

Post Office Card Account

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what safeguards have been put in place to protect Post Office card account PIN numbers when an account holder has nominated a home care worker to collect benefits for them;
	(2)  what milestones have been set for the procurement and implementation of the software and systems supporting the Post Office card account.

Stephen Timms: This is a matter which falls within the day-to-day responsibility of Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Adoption Regulations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoption from Overseas) Regulations.

Alan Johnson: The Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoption from Overseas) Regulations set out how Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay will apply to those adopting a child from overseas. This scheme is broadly the same as that for domestic adopters but for practical reasons there are some technical changes.
	We held three formal public exercises on the scheme for domestic adopters—on the initial Work and Parents Green Paper, on subsequent detailed framework documents and finally on draft regulations—as well as holding numerous meetings at both ministerial and official level with the key interested parties.
	As part of our formal consultation on the domestic adoption provisions, we asked interested parties to give us any suggestions for the overseas adoption process. We have since been working closely with those who identified themselves—including adoption agencies and adoption support groups, employer groups, specialist lawyers, the Inland Revenue and the Department of Health to devise a suitable way to apply the legislation to those who adopt a child from overseas.

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2003, Official Report, columns 1068–69, on animal welfare, if she will ban the import of products containing dog or cat fur.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 7 April 2003
	No. My noble Friend, the Minister for Trade and Investment, is investigating possibilities for labelling any such products.

Arms Exports

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many arms licences have been revoked as a result of investigations into breaches of licences since the Export Control Act 2002 came into force; and how many such investigations have (a) opened and (b) been completed since the Act came into force.

Nigel Griffiths: The Export Control Act 2002 is not yet in force.

Arms Exports

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons underlie the provisions in the draft Orders under the Export Control Act 2002 which provide for an extraterritorial element in certain circumstances, but not for the (a) sale and (b) brokering of sales in military or paramilitary equipment.

Nigel Griffiths: The draft secondary legislation does provide for controls on persons in the UK and UK persons, wherever they are located, who traffic or broker in military equipment to embargoed destinations, or in torture equipment or certain long-range missiles and their component parts to any destination.

Arms Exports

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will replace the flat-rate penalties in the draft Order under the Export Control Act 2002, for the deliberate flouting of controls on (a) arms exports, (b) technology transfer and (c) technical assistance, with fines that use an equation that ensures fines are commensurate with a company's market capitalisation.

Nigel Griffiths: The penalties for deliberate breach of the transfer of technology and technical assistance controls are set out in the Draft Export of Goods, Transfer of Technology and Provision of Technical Assistance (Control) Order, on which consultation is currently under way. The penalties for deliberate breach of export controls are set out in the Customs and Excise Act 1979 (CEMA).
	Under the draft order, deliberately flouting the transfer of technology or technical assistance controls carries a penalty, upon conviction on indictment of an unlimited fine and/or a custodial sentence of up to ten years imprisonment. On summary conviction the offence carries a maximum of £5,000 fine and/or a custodial sentence of up to six months. Deliberate breach of export controls carries the same penalties under CEMA.
	It is a matter for the courts to determine the level of the fine.

Arms Exports

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the benefits of extending the Trade in Controlled Goods (Control) Order and the Embargoed Destination (Sanctions) Control Order to companies and individuals involved indirectly in the trading of arms, with particular reference to (a) transportation, (b) financial services and (c) promotion.

Nigel Griffiths: The draft Trade (Control) Order provides for controls on activities, such as transportation, financial services and general advertising and promotion services, which facilitate the supply of equipment used in torture and Long Range Missiles to any destination. Likewise, the draft [Embargoed Destination] (Sanctions) Order provides for control on these activities which facilitate the supply of military equipment to embargoed destinations.
	The Department of Trade and Industry is presently consulting on the proposed secondary legislation to be made under the Export Control Act 2002.

Arms Exports

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the end-use arms control system used by the US State Department; and what assessment she has made of the merits of adopting a similar system in the UK.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are aware of the US State Department's system of post-export checks on strategic goods. We believe that the current system of careful pre-licensing checks is the best suited for the UK. We are looking into the US system to help inform the Government's view of its merits, in comparison to the system which the Government already operate.

Cuba

Mr. Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on trade relations with Cuba.

Nigel Griffiths: The UK's trade relations with Cuba are good. UK exports to Cuba were worth £11.3 million in 2002, against imports of £8.1 million. The UK's principal exports were industrial machinery and manufactured goods, while the main imports were sugar, citrus, rum and cigars.

European Regional Policy

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what responses she has received from other European countries to her paper on the future of European Regional Policy;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to gather support among other European countries for their recently published paper on the future of EU regional policy.

Alan Johnson: "A modern regional policy for the United Kingdom" was published on 6 March and opened a UK-wide consultation on the future of EU regional policy after 2006. The consultation paper has been sent to representatives of both current member states and the accession countries, inviting their views.
	No formal responses to the paper have yet been received from other European countries. However, the Department and others will continue to meet with representatives of other member states during the consultation period to discuss the future of EU regional policy and beyond.

Foreign Direct Investment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the amount of foreign direct investment in the south-east region in 2001–02.

Nigel Griffiths: The Invest-UK recorded 139 inward investments decisions in the south-east region in 2001–02. This is based on information provided by companies at the time of announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. To avoid more bureaucracy, there is no requirement to notify Invest UK of such decisions, so these figures include only those projects where Invest UK and its regional partners were involved or, which have come to their notice. There is no requirement to notify Invest-UK of such decisions, so these figures include only those projects where Invest-UK and its regional partners were involved or, which have come to their notice.

Market Research

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expenditure has been incurred by her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if she will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department does not centrally collect the information sought at the required level of detail, and to provide it would entail disproportionate cost. Where surveys are conducted which may be considered to contain an element relating to opinion polling, focus groups, or other forms of market research, it is not generally possible to identify separately the costs of that element.
	Letter from Graham Jenkins to Mr. John Bercow, dated 8 April 2003
	I am replying to your Parliamentary Question 1955 tabled on 28 March 2003, about the expenditure incurred by the (a) the Secretary of State's department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research and to list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each survey.
	In 2002, as an Agency, the Patent Office did not incur any expenditure on opinion polling, focus groups or other forms of market research. The Intellectual Property Advisory Committee (IPAC) which is a NDPB for which the Patent Office provides funds and secretarial support incurred expenditure of £3300 on market research.
	Surveys commissioned in 2002 were a telephone survey of customers using the Patent Office Central Enquiry Unit to determine grass-roots intelligence on customer needs, and a survey on enforcement run by the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee.
	Letter from Martin Wyn Griffith to Mr. John Bercow, dated 8 April 2003
	Your Parliamentary Question to Mrs Hewitt asked what expenditure has been incurred by her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if she will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each. I am replying on behalf of the Small Business Service (SBS).
	Relevant expenditure by the SBS is set out in the Table attached.
	I should explain that the Table covers work commissioned by the SBS itself. Business Link Operators, who provide local advice to small businesses under contract to the SBS and other organisations, also carry out surveys of their small business customers to identify their customers' needs and to assess customer satisfaction. The attached Table does not cover work commissioned by Business Link Operators.
	
		Opinion Polling, Focus Groups and other Market Research undertaken by SBS during 2002
		
			 Type of work Purpose Cost £000 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Opinion Polls No opinion polls undertaken  
			 Focus Groups:   
			 Productivity How SMEs(1) define and measure productivity 15 
			 Regulation The impact of regulations (including minimum wage) on SMEs 53 
			 Views of small businesses on the recommendations in the Patrick Carter Payroll Review report To find out the views of small businesses on the recommendations in the Patrick Carter Payroll Review report 10 
			 Development of "No Nonsense Guide" To check that "No-Nonsense Guide" for people who set up in business meets their needs 52 
			 Creative Development SME reaction to proposed advertising 38 
			 Website Development To test concepts and content of businesslink.org and business.gov website developments 190 
			
			 Other market research:   
			 SBS Omnibus Survey To gauge the needs of SMEs, their concerns and barriers to achieving their potential 120 
			 Follow-up to SBS Household Survey of Entrepreneurship To re-contact respondents to the 2001 SBS Household Survey and find out how many of those planning to go into business had actually done so and their experiences over the year 40 
			 National Client Survey 2002–03 To measure the client experience across the Business Link Operator network, Business Link website(2)and national services; to provide information on the factors which influence client satisfaction and dissatisfaction 53 
			 Tracking Survey To check improved awareness of Business Link brand following advertising campaign 41 
			 Advice dividend PR research work To identify the value to SMEs of business advice 29 
			 Total  641 
		
	
	(1) Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
	(2) www.businesslink.org
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. John Bercow, dated 8 April 2003
	I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on expenditure incurred on behalf of Companies House, an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	Companies House has commissioned one piece of market research in 2002 as part of our microfiche migration project. The research was conducted into our existing microfiche customers to establish the purchasing habits of those customers and to enable us to migrate them onto electronic delivery. The research was conducted by DVL Smith which is part of the Incepta Group at a cost of £40,825.
	There has been no expenditure on opinion polling or focus groups.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. John Bercow, dated 8 April 2003
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to your question requesting information on expenditure incurred in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and to list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each.
	The Insolvency Service maintains a National Consultative User Group and an Insolvency Practitioner User Group. Members of those groups give their time and travel costs at no expense to The Service. During 2002 we spent a total of £186 on light refreshments at user group meetings. No market research or survey's have been commissioned.
	Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. John Bercow, dated 8 April 2003
	The Secretary for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question on what expenditure has been incurred by her (a) Department, (b) Agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research.
	The National Weights and Measures Laboratory has not incurred any expenditure in the year 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research.
	Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. John Bercow, dated 8 April 2003
	You tabled a question on 28 March 2003 to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, asking what expenditure has been incurred by her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion poll, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if she will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	The Employment Tribunals Service has incurred no expenditure on opinion polls, focus groups or other forms of market research in 2002.
	Letter from Rolande Anderson to Mr. John Bercow, dated 8 April 2003
	The Secretary of State has asked me to provide the following information in respect of the Radiocommunications Agency in response to your Parliamentary Question 2002/1955 asking her what expenditure has been incurred by her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if she will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each.
	The Radiocommunications Agency commissioned the following studies in 2002. They all fall under the category of 'other forms of market research':
	
		
			 Name of Survey Purpose Cost/£000 
		
		
			 Survey of current radio-related research in UK and Europe Purpose: to identify organisations that have radio expertise in industry, academia and consultants 39 
			 Demand study on Digital TV To help estimate the demand of radio spectrum caused by digital TV 77 
			 Demand study on Cellular Mobile To help estimate the demand of radio spectrum by cellular mobile devices 53 
			 Private Mobile Radio Survey To help estimate the demand of radio spectrum by private business radio users 60

Pensions

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) funded and (b) unfunded public sector pension schemes for which her Department, its agencies and its non-departmental public bodies are responsible; when the last actuarial valuation was of each scheme; what the value was of the assets at the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; what deficit is disclosed by the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department, its agencies, and most of its non-department public bodies (NDPBs) subscribe to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). There is no participation in the management of the scheme's assets and liabilities and the Department's, its agencies' and NDPBs' contributions to the scheme are determined by the scheme.
	Some of the regional development agencies (RDAs), NDPBs sponsored by the Department, participate in the English Partnerships Pension Scheme. Again there is no participation in the management of the scheme's assets and liabilities, the RDAs contributions to the scheme are determined by the scheme.
	The Department and NDPBs also operate a number of unfunded pension schemes. There is no fund of investments for these schemes. However, the schemes are run and accounts prepared as though a fund does exist. There are notional portfolios of investments that are deemed to be similar to that of a sample of UK funded pension schemes and the notional investment return and market value are determined by reference to the average performance of such a portfolio. The schemes are subject to review by the Government Actuary's Department.
	The unfunded pension schemes are as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			As at 31 March 2002 
			 Name of pension scheme Date of last valuation Notional valueof assets Liabilities Surplus (deficit) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 UKAEA pension schemes 
			 The Combined Pension Scheme 31 March 2000 4,570.8 2,613.0 1,957.8 
			 The Principal Non-Industrial Superannuation Scheme 31 March 1998 545.2 320.0 225.2 
			 The Protected Persons Superannuation Scheme 31 March 1999 75.5 35.0 40.5 
			  
			 Research Council's pension scheme 31 March 1997 979.0 842.0 137.0 
		
	
	The Medical Research Council, an NDPB of the Department, operates a funded pension scheme: The Medical Research Council Pension Scheme. The scheme is subject to review by the Government Actuary's Department. The last actuarial valuation for the scheme was completed in respect of the scheme's position at 31 March 2001. At the date of the latest actuarial valuation, the market value of the assets was £596 million. There was a deficit of assets over liabilities of £12.5 million.

Post Offices

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department is providing funds for the payment of bonuses to network development managers who achieve a target number of Post Office branch closures under the Urban Network Reinvention Programme; and what the value of each bonus is.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 April 2003
	The Department is providing funds only for compensation payments and investment grants under the Urban Network Reinvention Programme. Post Office Ltd. is funding its costs for administering the programme. Decisions relating to staff management and remuneration arrangements are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. (POL), and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the additional subsidy to the rural post office network announced in late 2002 will be paid to rural sub-postmasters as extra pay; and how much will be given to Post Office Ltd. to run the rural network.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 April 2003
	Rural post offices across the UK will benefit from the £450 million package of financial support for the rural post office network that I announced on 2 December 2002. £66 million per annum will be used to maintain income levels for sub-postmasters (through maintaining the 'assigned office payment' (AOP), which is the fixed part of sub-postmaster pay). £79 million in year 1, and £74 million per annum in years 2 and 3 will be used to fund the front line services necessary for every rural post office to operate, including IT and cash handling and distribution. Additionally, there will be a flexible fund of £25 million—£5 million in the first year and £10 million per annum for years 2 and 3—to modernise service delivery and pilot innovative ways of delivering services.

Post Offices

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what representations she has made to the European Commission regarding the delay in granting confirmation for the £450 million government support for rural post offices;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the progress made in securing European Commission confirmation for the £450 million government aid for rural post offices.

Stephen Timms: The £450 million of assistance for the rural post office network announced in December for the period beginning April 2003–06 is subject to State Aid approval. We submitted our notification to the Commission in December for clearance.
	The timetable for state aid clearance is a matter for the European Commission. DTI is working to ensure that the questions and issues raised by the Commission are responded to as quickly as possible. We are confident in our case and anticipate approval in due course.

Staff Union Duties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: In my Department and its agencies in 2002, 178 people were allocated 795.5 days. Not all the allocations were taken up. The cost of paid leave was £37,000.
	Information for non-departmental public bodies is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Street Works

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place with the Department of Transport with reference to proposed street works legislation.

Stephen Timms: There have been various discussions at ministerial and official level as to the scope of future street works legislation, including with interested parties.

Working Hours

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policy on (a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible.

Patricia Hewitt: In my Department and its agencies the standard working week is 41 hours gross (36 net of lunch breaks) in London and 42 hours gross (37 net) outside of London.
	It is left for individual management units to determine core hours on the basis of the business needs of the Unit. We actively encourage flexible working, both in terms of hours worked and in the way in which the work is done.
	Comparable information is not held centrally in respect of non-departmental public bodies and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

AIDS (Southern Africa)

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Government intend to contribute to the fight against the spread of the AIDS epidemic in southern Africa and the treatment of those who have contracted it.

Clare Short: HIV/AIDS is a major challenge in southern Africa, and is a priority for my Department's funding in the region. DFID's programmes include support for prevention, treatment, care and support, and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS. My Department has approved large new commitments to combat HIV/AIDS in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe; a new £30 million, four-year multisectoral HIV/AIDS programme for South Africa is awaiting approval. We also support a SADC HIV/AIDS programme (£7.5 million over four years) covering Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana, and have recently approved a further £6 million for work across Africa to support connections between on-going regional work and funding some new regional initiatives, such as working on orphans and vulnerable children. In addition to direct support for HIV/AIDS programmes, DFID is increasingly mainstreaming efforts to combat HIV/AIDS into all development programmes.
	We have also contributed significantly to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria from which many of the countries of southern Africa will benefit.

Child Prostitution (Cambodia)

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she plans to take to tackle the organised abuse, trafficking and prostitution of children in Cambodia as part of the child-sex tourism industry in the Far East.

Clare Short: We take the trafficking, abuse and exploitation of children in Cambodia, and the Far East, very seriously. Children from poor and uneducated families are most at risk. Our support for programmes to reduce poverty will have an impact in the longer term. In the meantime we are also supporting more direct action.
	DFID has been funding the International Labour Organisation's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour to combat trafficking of children and women in the Greater Mekong Sub Region for three years and is now supporting it for another five—making a total contribution of over £7 million. The programme covers Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and the Yunnan Province of China. It aims to work with governments, NGOs, the private sector and trade unions to promote awareness of the dangers of trafficking, to provide alternative livelihood options and to help governments reach agreements on how to tackle cross border issues.
	DFID is also funding a three-year £1.66 million Save the Children Fund-UK initiative that began in early 2003 to reduce the incidence and impact of trafficking of children. This programme includes all the above countries as well as Myanmar. Its focus is on promoting grass roots initiatives to bring families out of poverty.
	Through the British embassy in Phnom Penh the UK Government are working with Non Government Organisations to publicise the dangers to families and children at risk, including street children. There is work with the Cambodian police to detect and disrupt paedophile activity. And in the UK, courts now have powers to deal with British citizens who commit sex offences with children abroad.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the reoccupation of Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Ugandan troops; what talks her Department has had with the Rwandan Government in relation to the possibility that it may launch a new offensive in the DRC; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: We are deeply concerned about the Ugandan occupation of Bunia on 6 March and have told the Government of Uganda in the clearest terms that it should withdraw its army from Ituri immediately. We have also urged restraint on Rwanda in strong terms.

European Commission Budgets

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the European Commission issued calls for proposals for budget line B7–6312; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Budget line B7–6312 (Aid for Population and Reproductive Health in Developing Countries) is intended to support innovative approaches for the reduction of maternal mortality. The call for proposals under this budget line for 2002 was not issued in January 2003 as previously advised, due to unforeseen administrative difficulties. The call for proposals will now be made in early May 2003.

Guinea and Liberia

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial resources she has allocated to the refugee camps on the border between Guinea and Liberia.

Clare Short: Within the last month I have approved around £4 million for humanitarian assistance in the Mano River Union countries. This was in response to the UN Consolidated Appeals for countries of the region. Within this sum there is a strong emphasis on assistance to both refugees and internally displaced people located in the border areas between Guinea and Liberia. The funds have been channelled mainly through UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Haitian Immigrants

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what financial resources her Department has allocated to illegal Haitian immigrants with HIV/AIDS;
	(2)  what financial resources her Department has allocated to Haitian refugees in the Turks and Caicos Islands for each year since 1997.

Clare Short: According to the Governor's Office in Turks and Caicos Islands, there currently are only two registered refugees in the islands, neither of whom is Haitian. My Department has allocated no financial resources for Haitian refugees in the Islands since 1997.
	Our development assistance is not allocated by specific population groups within the Turks and Caicos Islands. In consultation with the Islands' authorities, we are developing a programme of support to improve the quality and equity of access to health care for all. The Islands' Government already has an established National AIDS Control Programme, which is addressing the HIV/AIDS problem. This includes on-going education and information work, which takes account of language differences, to ensure that key messages about HIV/AIDS risks reach the whole population. The Turks and Caicos Islands also benefit from our support to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre for HIV/AIDS prevention, to which we have allocated £1.7 million for the period 2002 to 2005.

Haitian Immigrants

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate her Department has made of the number of Haitian immigrants in the Turks and Caicos Islands who have HIV/AIDS.

Clare Short: There is no segregation of numbers of Haitian immigrants within the Turks and Caicos Islands population for the purposes of the national HIV/AIDS surveillance system. According to the data from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, the HIV prevalence in the Turks and Caicos Islands population as a whole was estimated in 2001 to be 5 per cent., as compared to the Caribbean average of 2 per cent. The estimated number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the Turks and Caicos Islands by the end of 2001 was 972, comprising nine children, 459 women and 504 men.

HIPC

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Government will be issuing a response to the World Bank's recent evaluation of the heavily indebted poor country initiative.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The World Bank Operations Evaluation Department's recent review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) was prepared to inform donor and recipient countries of progress to date and make some key recommendations for strengthening the Initiative. It is not a report to the UK Government specifically and as such does not require a formal response. We are, nevertheless, considering the OED's recommendations.
	The Government acknowledges that debt relief is not a panacea for broader economic development problems; even the provision of 100 per cent. debt relief to all low-income countries would still fall short of the resources needed to meet the Millennium Development Goals. That is why the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development have proposed an International Finance Facility (IFF) that would seek to double the amount of development aid from just over US$50 billion a year today to $100 billion per year in the years to 2015.

HIPC

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure the additionality of heavily indebted poor country funding.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Virtually all of the debts of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries to the UK Government are owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD). The UK participates fully in the enhanced HIPC initiative under which bilateral creditors are typically required to offer 90 per cent. debt relief. These costs are borne entirely by ECGD and hence are additional to any aid spending by the UK.
	The UK goes further than is required under the HIPC initiative and always provides 100 per cent. debt relief. The Department for International Development (DfID) reimburses ECGD for the cost of this additional bilateral voluntary debt relief. To ensure that funding for the HIPC Initiative is additional these costs are carefully considered and agreed in each spending review.
	However, even the provision of 100 per cent. debt relief to all low-income countries would still fall short of the resources needed to meet the Millennium Development Goals. For this reason the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development have proposed an International Finance Facility (IFF) that would seek to double the amount of development aid from just over US$50 billion a year today to $100 billion per year in the years to 2015.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources are set aside in her Department's contingency reserve for 2003–04; what assessment she has made of the impact of allocating a significant proportion of the contingency reserve for the next financial year to humanitarian support for Iraq on her Department's ability to respond effectively to other global emergencies; whether she expects her Department's contingency reserve for 2003–04 to be replenished by the Treasury; what bids for additional funding for humanitarian activities in Iraq she has made to the Treasury; and if she will make a statement on how her Department spent its contingency reserve in 2002–03.

Clare Short: DFID's contingency reserve for 2003–04 has been set at £100 million, of which £75 million has been earmarked for Iraq. We have allocated £15 million to Iraq from other DFID budgets and have been allocated an additional £120 million from the Treasury reserve for expenditure on Iraq.
	We have made clear that we will not redirect funds to Iraq from other emergencies like Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Afghanistan or the West Bank and Gaza; nor will we divert funds from programmes supporting development for poor people elsewhere.
	We started 2002–03 with a contingency reserve of £50 million. During the year allocations were made from the reserve to augment our response to the food shortages in Southern Africa, to provide humanitarian aid and initial rehabilitation assistance in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Ethiopia, and for emergency assistance in the Palestinian territories.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many internally displaced people there are in northern Iraq.

Clare Short: Recent reports from the UN Office for Project services (UNOPS) indicate that an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 people have been newly displaced in northern Iraq since the onset of the current crisis though some have returned to their homes. Approximately 90 per cent. of these are staying with families or friends. The needs of the remainder are being met by local authorities and humanitarian agencies. UNOPS is currently undertaking a comprehensive survey of internally displaced people in the north. Results will be noted in DFID's Iraq Updates as soon as they are available.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on (a) food shortages and (b) water shortages in northern Iraq.

Clare Short: The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that food stocks have been diminishing in northern Iraq. Recent reports indicate that WFP have delivered 850 tonnes of wheat flour to northern Iraq from Turkey. This is the first part of an initial 6,000 metric tonne consignment expected to be delivered in the coming days. 12 further UNICEF trucks are also en route to the north.
	We have received no reports of significant water shortages in the north. Water for internally displaced people camps is being provided by UN agencies, NGOs and local authorities.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether deliveries of emergency food and medical supplies to support internally displaced people in northern Iraq have been subjected to delays; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The Turkish authorities acknowledge that delays have occurred with cross-border movements of supplies into northern Iraq. However, we understand that these have now eased. The World Food Programme, UNICEF, and NGOs have been able to cross the border into northern Iraq with supplies in recent days. We are monitoring the situation closely.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice her Department has given the Ministry of Defence regarding food distribution in southern Iraq.

Clare Short: DFID has seconded two humanitarian advisers to UK forces. They are advising the military on a range of issues, including appropriate food supplies and distribution mechanisms.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans are in place to restore electricity supplies in Basra in order that sewage treatment and water pumping can resume.

Clare Short: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with local authorities, has succeeded in restoring much of the water supply in and around Basra, though significant problems remain. The main water pumping station is currently running on six back up generators as a temporary measure. Work is under way to restore the mains electricity supply. The UK has offered assistance.

Organ Sales

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to deter the sale of organs in under-developed countries to visitors from developed countries.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Human Organ Transplant Act, 1989 prohibits, in the United Kingdom, commercial dealings in human organs, places restrictions upon transplants between living persons who are not genetically related and requires certain information to be supplied about transplant operations.
	Most countries with organ transplant programmes also have legislation banning payments for organ donation. There are formal arrangements in place between European transplant organisations to ensure that when an organ cannot be used in the originating country it is offered for use to patients in other European countries.

Renewable Energy Programmes

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department will provide for capacity building programmes for implementation of (a) research and development and (b) installation of renewable energy and low carbon technologies in (i) developing and (ii) less developed countries; and how the United Kingdom plans to assist scientific and engineering development in sustainable energy technologies in these countries.

Clare Short: Much of my Department's work on renewable energy is undertaken through our Knowledge and Research (KaR) programme, which has, over recent years, included both technical and institutional issues to promote their use in developing countries. The technologies have included solar, wind, biomass and small hydropower. All such projects have a substantial capacity building approach, working as far as possible with organisations in developing countries. We have a public website listing and giving details of past and current renewable energy projects funded through the KaR programme—www.etsu.com/dfid-kar-energy/.
	Our overall approach to energy for development is to encourage consideration of the full menu of options to improve access to affordable energy services, not limiting this to renewable sources. This is reflected in an Issues Document, Energy for the Poor, which was released by this Department at the World Summit for Sustainable Development last September.
	In addition to our KaR programme, my Department also contributes and participates in the multi-donor Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP), which is a global technical assistance programme supported by the World bank and UNDP as well as other governments. The work being undertaken through ESMAP includes building local research and development capacity in developing countries in sustainable energy and renewable energy technologies. The work of ESMAP can be seen on their website www.worldbank.org/esmap.

Rwanda

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment is of the humanitarian situation in Rwanda.

Clare Short: Rwanda is a very poor country with a recent history of genocide and great humanitarian needs. Scores against basic humanitarian indicators place Rwanda in the bottom half of most rankings within sub-Saharan Africa. However, the country is recovering from the genocide, and substantial development resources are being deployed in an attempt to lift its people out of poverty.
	Earlier this year, unseasonably dry conditions over southern and eastern Rwanda in February and early March 2003 raised concerns about food security. However, an assessment in early March found that most household coping strategies (e.g. casual work and informal cross-border trade) were working well. Rains came in mid-March and food insecurity has since eased across the country.
	We believe that our long-term development partnerships with Rwanda is the best way of achieving a sustained reduction in poverty. The UK committed £35million to Rwanda in the last financial year in addition to our contribution to multilateral funding.

Connexions Service

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the value of leaflets on drugs and young people's health provided by the organisation Connexions; what public funding for that organisation is provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the value of leaflets on drugs and young people's health provided by the organisation Connexions; what public funding for that organisation is provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 7 April 2003
	Connexions does not produce advisory leaflets on drugs and health issues at a national level. The Connexions Service through its 47 Partnerships in England provides front line advice and support to young people, working closely with other government departments and other public agencies delivering services to young people. Where specialist help is needed by a young person including in the areas of drugs or health, Connexions personal advisers broker access to this specialist support. It is up to Connexions Partnerships to decide on the most appropriate use of resources to meet the needs of young people in their area and they may choose to develop leaflets for young people where they see a need, in co-operation with local partners.
	Overall funding available for Connexions in 2003–04 is £457.7 million, which is provided under DfES's Spending Review settlement.

A-level Results

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students achieved (a) one and (b) one to three A-E grades at A level (i) in England and (ii) at schools and colleges based in the Buckinghamshire constituency in 2001–02; and if he will break down those figures between (A) independent schools and colleges and (B) state schools and colleges.

David Miliband: The percentage of students achieving (a) one and (b) one to three A-E grades at GCE/VCE A level in independent schools and in maintained schools and FE sector colleges both in England and Buckinghamshire constituencies in 2001–02 is as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  1 GCE/VCE A-level pass 1 to 3 GCE/VCE A-level passes 
			  England Buckinghamshire constituencies England Buckinghamshire constituencies 
		
		
			 Independent schools 9.5 4.5 76.2 87.2 
			 Maintained schools and FE sector colleges 22.4 13.7 74.8 76.7 
			 All institutions 20.6 12.9 75.0 77.7

Admission Policies

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the payments made to Electoral Reform services in respect of (a) the preparation for and (b) the conduct of parental ballots on selective secondary schools' admission policies in each of the last five years.

David Miliband: The Education (Grammar School Ballots) Regulations came into effect on 3 December 1998. To date, £1,102,945 has been paid to Electoral Reform Services, the bulk of which is passed on to schools in the form of grants to cover costs in providing information to the company. The payments have been made as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Petition Year (a) Preparation for ballots (b)Conduct of ballots Totalfor year 
		
		
			 1998–99 22,778.81 0 22,778.81 
			 1999–2000 216,283.51 1,780.07 218,063.58 
			 2000–01 58,285.36 0 58,285.36 
			 2001–02 438,099.66 0 438,099.66 
			 2002–03(3) 365,717.66 0 365,717.66 
		
	
	(3) So far

Archaeology

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans his Department has to (a) increase the teaching of archaeology in schools and (b) make pre-history part of all national curricula.

Stephen Twigg: There are no current plans for the Department to increase the teaching of archaeology in schools or to increase the references to pre-history within the National Curriculum.
	The teaching of aspects of archaeological study and of pre-history are already included as part of the Programmes of Study for History which is a compulsory part of the National Curriculum in England for all pupils in years 1–9, that is key stages one to three.

Assaults on Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many assaults on staff by (a) pupils and (b) parents have taken place in each year since 1997; and in how many cases was a conviction obtained.

Ivan Lewis: As the hon. Member has been told in previous answers (on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 402W and 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 128W), the Department does not collect this information. Injuries that lead to an absence from work of three days or more must, however, be reported to the Health and Safety Executive. Information available from the Executive shows that all reportable assaults in the education sector in Great Britain totalled 160 in 1999–2000, 171 in 2000–01 and provisionally 143 in 2001–02; there are no figures for the related numbers of convictions.

Autism

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school age children were recognised as being on the autistic spectrum, and what proportion they constituted of (a) children with special needs and (b) all school age children in each local education authority in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not currently available centrally.
	At present, there is no requirement for schools to submit information in the Annual Schools' Census on the nature of such pupils' disability or learning difficulty. However, in June 2001, the Department carried out a pilot study involving a sample of 200 mainstream and special schools to assess whether it would be possible to collect data from schools on a broad range of types of special educational needs (SEN). From January 2004 the Department is planning to ask schools and local education authorities to provide this information.

Capital Expenditure

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total level of capital support was for classroom replacement in each education authority in England in 2002.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 24 February 2003, Official Report, columns 338–41W.

Capital Expenditure

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what help was given to local education authorities in Somerset for the capital cost of replacing classrooms in each of the last three years.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 24 February 2003, Official Report, columns 338–41W. Allocations so far for Somerset for 2003–04 total some £19.2 million.

Capital Expenditure

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated for capital expenditure in Selby in North Yorkshire in each year since 1996 through (a) the New Deal for Schools and (b) the local authority capital allocation; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Department allocates capital funding to local education authorities (LEAs) and their schools and not to individual towns or constituencies. Capital funding for North Yorkshire LEA is set out in the following table:
	
		£ million
		
			 Year Total capital Of which New Deal for Schools(4) 
		
		
			 1996–97 4.0 — 
			 1997–98 5.4 1.0 
			 1998–99 7.5 1.4 
			 1999–2000 10.6 3.2 
			 2000–01 (5)29.1 12.1 
			 2001–02 15.3 6.4 
			 2002–03 20.9 11.5 
			 2003–04 34.1 17.3 
			 Total 126.9 52.8 
		
	
	(4) Includes bid-based New Deal for Schools (NDS) up to 2000–01, and formulaic funding for NDS Devolved Formula (from 2000–01), Condition (from 2001–02) and Modernisation (from 2002–03).
	(5) Includes £7.2 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI) allocation.

Dyslexia

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what help is given to local education authorities in Somerset for teachers of dyslexia; and what the average size of grants for statemented children was in the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: Funding is not made available to support specific categories of special educational needs, nor is it made available directly for statemented children. Rather, funding is allocated and distributed via LEAs, who have a duty to provide appropriately for all children in their area, including children with statements.
	Opportunities for professional development for teachers are supported through the special educational needs standard fund grant, from which Somerset LEA has received £1.9 million in the years 2001–04. One of this grant's objectives is to support special educational needs and disability training and professional development for teachers, learning support assistants and other staff. This is in addition to the £614.5 million Somerset has received in Education Formula Spending Share (previously known as Education Standard Spending Assessment) in 2001–04. It is for individual LEAs and schools to decide how they spend this funding, taking account of their statutory duties towards children with special educational needs.

Education Funding

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills of the 36 LEAs which received increased budget announced on 25 March, which were in receipt of (a) the floor in their grant settlement, (b) the ceiling in their grant settlement and (c) the maximum amount possible of standards fund awards now consolidated into their budget; what was (i) the highest, (ii) the lowest and (iii) the average amount each LEA received in respect of standards fund moneys; in relation to an amount equivalent to consolidated standards fund money for each of the 36 LEAs, by how much does additional grant (A) fall below and (B) exceed that amount; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 4 April 2003
	It is not possible to answer the Question in precisely the way it has been asked. The table sets out the information requested in relation to (a) and (b). It also sets out (c) the reduction in Standards Fund grant between 2002–03 and 2003–04 as a result of the Government's commitment to reduce ringfenced funding for schools (d) the difference on a like-for-like basis between the total resources available for schools in 2002–03 and 2003–04 and (e) the level of additional grant announced on 25 March. The purpose of the additional funding is not to compensate authorities for the loss of individual Standards Fund grants but to to ensure that the effective increase in total education funding for LEAs and schools between 2002–03 and 2003–04 is no less than 3.2 per cent. per pupil for all authorities.
	
		£ million
		
			  Grantsettlement SF grant reduction Total increase Extra grant 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham  1.655 5.075 1.128 
			 Bedfordshire  2.599 9.452 0.135 
			 Bexley Floor 2.037 2.741 1.492 
			 Bournemouth Floor 0.594 2.039 0.140 
			 Brighton and Hove Floor 1.368 2.822 0.960 
			 Bromley Floor 2.456 6.139 0.815 
			 Camden  1.997 1.576 1.168 
			 Croydon Floor 2.918 6.226 1.302 
			 Dorset Floor 1.452 8.932 0.318 
			 East Sussex Floor 2.887 11.369 0.110 
			 Enfield  2.527 6.073 1.147 
			 Essex Floor 7.723 38.500 1.162 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Floor 1.723 1.589 0.886 
			 Hampshire Floor 6.668 28.668 0.278 
			 Haringey Floor 3.285 2.648 1.330 
			 Havering Floor 1.799 3.282 1.089 
			 Hertfordshire  5.932 23.261 1.000 
			 Isle of Wight Council  0.882 2.531 0.110 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Floor 1.006 2.364 0.288 
			 Knowsley  2.817 0.568 0.736 
			 Lambeth  2.609 7.227 1.282 
			 Leicestershire  2.325 14.644 0.835 
			 Medway  1.867 3.608 1.295 
			 Norfolk  5.064 15.740 1.595 
			 North East Lincolnshire  1.153 2.738 0.033 
			 Plymouth Floor 1.350 2.665 0.831 
			 Portsmouth Floor 1.420 1.446 0.891 
			 Redbridge  2.295 5.584 0.903 
			 Richmond upon Thames Floor 0.996 3.659 0.152 
			 Slough Ceiling 0.845 3.417 0.376 
			 Southampton Floor 1.489 1.687 1.016 
			 Southend Floor 1.115 3.765 0.358 
			 Suffolk  4.006 16.491 0.108 
			 Sutton  1.460 5.011 0.503 
			 Thurrock Ceiling 1.178 3.597 0.308 
			 Waltham Forest Floor 2.803 2.984 2.140

Education Funding

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to assist schools where the local education authority has passported to schools the amount expected by his Department, but the net effect of changes in the standards fund has resulted in increases to the school of less than 3.2 per cent. per pupil.

David Miliband: holding answer 4 April 2003
	I would refer my hon. Friend to my written statement of 26 March 2003, Official Report, column 14WS.

Education Funding

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what change there has been in schools funding in Essex since 1997.

David Miliband: Funding per pupil in Essex, including both standard spending assessments and revenue grants has increased in real terms from an average £2,790 in 1997–98 to £3,380 in 2002–03, an increase of £590 or 21 per cent. Complete figures for 2003–04 including grants are not yet available.

International Baccalaureate

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will introduce the International Baccalaureate to schools in England instead of creating an English version of it to replace A-levels.

David Miliband: In our policy document 14–19: 'opportunity and excellence' we recognised the particular strengths of the International Baccalaureate while at the same time noting that the IB was not designed to be, and is not, a suitable model to meet the needs of the majority of young people in this country.
	The Working Group chaired by Mike Tomlinson on possible longer-term 14–19 reforms will consider the structure and delivery of the International Baccalaureate as part of its work on a unified framework of qualifications.

National Minimum Wage

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) 16–17 and (b) 18 to 24-year-olds on modern apprenticeships are paid (i) below and (ii) above the national minimum wage.

Ivan Lewis: The national minimum wage does not apply to apprentices who are under the age of 19, or to apprentices aged 19–25 and in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship. We do not routinely collect information on the wages paid to those undertaking a Modern Apprenticeship. However, the fourth report of the Low Pay Commission notes that the lowest quartile pay of apprentices aged 16–25 was £3.72 per hour according to the spring 2002 Labour Force Survey. This is above the minimum wage youth development rate.

Ofsted Inspections

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance is issued by his Department to Ofsted about the recommended notice to be given of school inspections.

David Miliband: The period of notice prior to a school inspection is a matter for Ofsted. David Bell, the Chief Inspector will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

School Computers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average number of pupils per computer was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the Buckingham constituency in 2002.

Charles Clarke: The information is not available in the form requested.
	It is estimated from a sample survey of schools that the average number of pupils per computer in maintained primary and secondary schools in England at 31 March 2002 was 9.7 and 6.0 respectively. The sample was not large enough to produce reliable figures for parliamentary constituencies.
	The latest information on ICT in schools was published in Statistical Bulletin 07/02 'Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2002', which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics and from the Library.

School Exclusions (East Riding)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were (a) suspended and (b) expelled from maintained schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Information on permanent exclusions is shown in the table.
	
		Number of permanent exclusions: academic years 1996–97 to 2000–01 -- East Riding of Yorkshire local education authority
		
			  Primary(6) Secondary(6) Special(7) Total 
			  Number of exclusions Percentage of the school population(8) Number of exclusions Percentage of the school population(8) Number of exclusions Percentage of the school population(8) Number of exclusions Percentage of the school population(8) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1996–97 1 0.00 28 0.13 0 0.00 29 0.06 
			 1997–98 1 0.00 22 0.10 1 0.22 24 0.05 
			 1998–99 2 0.01 18 0.08 0 0.00 20 0.04 
			 1999–2000 3 0.01 14 0.06 3 0.63 20 0.04 
			 2000–01(9) 8 0.03 30 0.13 2 0.44 40 0.08 
		
	
	(6) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(7) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools
	(8) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils in primary, secondary and special schools.
	(9) Permanent exclusions for 2000–01 are estimated as a number of local educational authorities have not confirmed the data for their schools.
	Information on pupils suspended (excluded for a fixed period) is not collected centrally. Following a review of data collected on exclusions, the Department is planning to collect information from local education authorities on both fixed term and permanent exclusions on a termly basis from this summer.

Special Educational Needs

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schoolchildren in Kent were classified as special needs pupils in each of the past five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		All schools: Number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN): 1998–2002 -- Position in January each year
		
			  Kent local education authority 
			  Number of pupils with statements of SEN(10) Percentage of pupils with statements of SEN(11) Number of pupils with SEN without a statement(10) Percentage of pupils with SEN without a statement(11) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998(12) 8,591 3.2 64,319 23.9 
			 1999 7,587 3.4 55,209 24.4 
			 2000 8,030 3.5 55,627 24.3 
			 2001(13) 8,375 3.6 55,195 23.9 
			 2002(14) 8,318 3.6 42,471 18.3 
		
	
	(10) Excludes dually registered pupils.
	(11) The number of pupils with and without statements expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll.
	(12) Before local government reorganisation (includes Medway).
	(13) Estimates were made for 2001 because the data for SEN are known to be incomplete.
	(14) Figures for 2002 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years because of the introduction of a new SEN code of practice.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Charles Clarke: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Supply Teachers (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many supply teachers are working in Buckinghamshire; and what percentage supply teachers represent of the total number of teachers in Buckinghamshire expressed as full-time equivalents.

David Miliband: The table shows the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of regular teachers and number of occasional teachers in service in the maintained schools sector in Buckinghamshire in January 2002.
	
		
			  Number of teachers 
		
		
			 Regular teachers(15) 4,030 
			 Occasional teachers(16) 120 
			 All teachers 4,150 
			 Occasional teachers as percentage of all teachers 3% 
		
	
	(15) All teachers (FTE) on contracts of a month or more in service on the survey date (17 January 2002).
	(16) Teachers on contracts of less than one month in service for the whole of the day on the survey date.
	Note:
	Teacher numbers rounded to nearest 10.
	Source:
	DfES annual 618G survey.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Baluant Singh

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the explanatory statement was sent by New Delhi to London in the case of Baluant Singh (GV100/76955/NW); and when the Home Office accepted delivery.

Bill Rammell: The British High Commission in New Delhi has confirmed that no appeal has been received in the case of Mr. Balwant Singh and, therefore, no explanatory statement has either been prepared or sent.

Entertainment Costs

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he has entertained Labour hon. Members at public expense in the last 12 months; and at what cost.

Jack Straw: As Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, I have not specifically entertained any Labour hon. Members at public expense. Ministers and parliamentary private secretaries are fed in their official capacity. I have, however, included hon. Members on the guest list for various events over the last 12 months. More detailed information on the individual cost of entertaining hon. Members as part of those events is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

EU Directives

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002.

Denis MacShane: None.

Family Visitor Visas

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when entry clearance posts began electronic compilation of statistics in relation to family visitor visa (a) applications, (b) decisions and (c) appeals.

Bill Rammell: The majority of posts were able to start compiling statistical information electronically on family visitor visa applications, decisions and appeals on Monday 2 October 2000. However a small percentage did not begin electronic compilation immediately. I will write to my hon. Friend once information regarding these posts has been collected.

Graham Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Graham Island.

Denis MacShane: Graham Island is the tip of a small volcano 30 miles off the coast of Sicily which emerges from the sea occasionally for short periods. In 1831 the Royal Navy claimed it but in 1832 it re-submerged. We doubt whether the 1831 claim subsists and have never sought to revive it. We understand that the Italian government claims the island.

International Criminal Court

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of support given to the International Criminal Court by the UK.

Bill Rammell: The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court. It is, after Germany and France, the third largest contributor to the first budget of the Court, our assessed share being 11.4 per cent. or euros 3,740,632 (approx £2.5 million). Mr. Justice Adrian Fulford was sworn-in as a Judge of the ICC on 11 March 2003. We contribute both unilaterally and through the EU Commission to the funding of a number of NGOs working in support of the court.
	I attended the inauguration of the ICC.
	Politically, the UK continues to encourage other states to ratify or accede to the ICC, both bilaterally and with EU partners in support of the EU Common Position on the ICC.

Iraqi Civilian Deaths

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to issue an apology to members of families of Iraqi civilians killed by Coalition forces.

Mike O'Brien: Coalition forces take great care to target only regime and military targets and to minimise civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. It is impossible to guarantee that no civilians will be killed or injured. We have and continue to express our regret and sympathy for the deaths of any civilians. Our quarrel is not with the people of Iraq.

Kashmir

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action his Department has taken to try to find a solution to the Indo-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, regularly raises our concerns in relation to Kashmir with the Governments of India and Pakistan. On 24 March the Foreign Secretary telephoned the Indian Foreign Minister to condemn the 23 March massacre of innocent civilians in Kashmir, and to express condolences to the victims' families. We condemn all terrorism wherever it occurs and whatever its purported justification. Violence will not solve Kashmir's problems. While the dispute between India and Pakistan is at root a bilateral one, the United Kingdom and our international partners stand ready to help both countries to start a process aimed at building confidence, normalising bilateral relations and resolving outstanding differences, including Kashmir.
	In a 27 March joint United States—United Kingdom statement on the violence in Kashmir, the Foreign Secretary and the US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell encouraged both sides to consider immediately implementing a ceasefire and taking other active steps to reduce tension including by moves within the South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) context. The differences between India and Pakistan can only be resolved through peaceful means and engagement.

Middle East

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Consul General was part of the European Consul Delegation of 5 March to Nablus City; and what reports he has received of the damage to the Old City in Nablus left behind by Israeli forces and its impact in (a) economic and (b) cultural terms.

Mike O'Brien: HM Consul General visited Nablus on 5 March with European colleagues. Israel Defence Force (IDF) action has had a serious effect on the town. Health and education facilities have been seriously disrupted. Homes and businesses have been destroyed, and unemployment, according to the Governor of Nablus, is 63 per cent. We have repeatedly urged the parties to implement UNSCR 1435 which calls for Israeli withdrawal and to stop destruction of Palestinian infrastructure. The roadmap offers a mechanism to help achieve this.

Palestine

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken to produce a draft constitution for Palestinian statehood.

Mike O'Brien: At the London Conference on 14 January, the Palestinian delegation committed to draw up an outline constitution based on the principles of political pluralism, rule of law and respect for human rights, and set out a process of consultation, including a referendum. The Palestinian Constitution Committee published the first draft of the constitution of a future Palestinian state in February 2001. Further drafts have since been prepared. We understand that further public consultation is planned to refine the latest draft. A final draft will be presented for a national referendum in due course. HMG has provided legal advice and financial support for this work.

Papua New Guinea

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on terrorist bases in Papua New Guinea.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any recent discussions with his Australian counterpart on terrorist bases in Papua New Guinea.

Rough Diamond Sales/Arms Exports

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what measures the Government is taking at the UN Security Council to ensure that the embargo on rough diamond sales and arms exports, and the travel ban on key personnel from Liberia will be extended and that a ban on timber exports will be adopted when these issues are discussed in May;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the role of the Liberian timber industry in the smuggling of arms into Liberia during the current UN embargo; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to his answer of 26 March 2003, Official Report, column 258W, what action the UK Government will take at the next meeting of the UN Security Council on Liberia in May on the timber industry.

Bill Rammell: The UN imposed sanctions on Liberia as a result of the Liberian Governments' complicity in fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone. Liberia remains a serious threat to the stability of the sub-region. We believe sanctions should be maintained until Liberia stops its destabilising efforts in the region and meets in full the demands of the UN Security Council.
	We share the concern of the UN Panel of Experts that the revenues from timber sales are being used to fund arms purchases in breach of UN sanctions. In resolution 1408(2002) the UN Security Council called on the Government of Liberia to undertake the audit of shipping and timber revenues and to use the revenues from the timber trade for social, development and humanitarian purposes.
	We have played a leading role in trying to restrict the Government of Liberia's sanction busting activities. We will be calling for the Council to examine all sources of revenue, including timber sales, used to make arms purchases, and to consider ways of addressing the problem in order to prevent the Liberian regime from making illicit arms purchases.
	The Government supports the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) process, which calls on all African governments and trading partners to take action to control illegal activities in the logging sector and associated trade. The UK will be represented at an AFLEG Conference in April 2003 to push this process forward.

Security Council

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK Government's policy is on Mr. Javier Solana's proposal for the EU to have one seat only on the Security Council.

Denis MacShane: It is not the Government's understanding that Mr. Solana has proposed that the EU should have one seat only on the Security Council.

Security Council

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy that an EU common foreign policy should be explained to the UN by a single Security Council representative.

Denis MacShane: This is not the Government's policy.

Serbia and Montenegro

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the status of negotiations on the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Denis MacShane: The Constitutional Charter of state union of Serbia and Montenegro was adopted by the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 4 February 2003.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the Balkans at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 18–19 March 2003. The issue was also discussed at the European Council on 21 March 2003. The UK and EU partners condemned the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and reinforced our support for Serbia and Montenegro in the fight against organised crime and war criminals and for SaM's further integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. The GAERC welcomed SaM's accession into the Council of Europe on 3 April 2003.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Jack Straw: A list of instruments issued or originated by the Foreig and Commonwealth Office and the purpose of each instrument is below. It is difficult to estimate the costs of each, but it is most unlikely that significant costs to public funds, businesses orindividuals have been involved.
	2002/111 The Afghanistan and Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order2002.
	Purpose: This Order revokes the Afghanistan (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2001 and the Afghanistan (United Nations Measures) Order 2001 in the UK
	2002/112 The Afghanistan and Terrorism (United Nations Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2002.
	Purpose: This Order revokes the Afghanistan (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2001 and the Afghanistan (United Nations Measures) Order 2001 in the Overseas Territories
	2002/249 The Pitcairn Court of Appeal Order 2000 (Amendment) Order2002.
	Purpose: To correct an error in the Pitcairn Court of Appeal Order 2000. The form of Judicial Affirmation in the Order erroneously includes the words "So help me God." which are inappropriate for an affirmation and appropriate only to the taking of an oath.
	2002/250 The Territorial Sea Act 1987 (Jersey) (Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: This Order amends the Territorial Sea Act 1987 (Jersey) Order 1997, which extended the 1987 Act to Jersey, to take account of the maritime boundary established between France and Jersey in accordance with an Agreement between the United Kingdom and the French Republic, signed at St. Helier on 4 July 2000 (Cm 5024).
	2002/251 The Al-Q'aida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: This Order gives effect in the Overseas Territories to Security Council Resolution 1390(2002), under which states are required to prohibit the delivery or supply of arms and related materiel and the provision of related technical assistance and training to Usama bin Laden Al-Q'aida and the Taliban and their associates, and are also required to prohibit the making of funds available to those persons.
	2002/266 The Al-Q'aida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) (Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: This Order gives effect to Security Council Resolution 1390(2002), under which states are required to prohibit the delivery or supply of arms and related materiel and the provision of related technical assistance and training to Usama in Laden, Al-Q'aida and the Taliban and their associates, and are also required to prohibit the making of funds available to those persons.
	2002/1076 The Geneva Conventions (Amendments) Act (Overseas Territories) Order 2002.
	Purpose: This Order extends to the Territories specified in Schedule 1 the Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Act 1995, subject to the exceptions and modifications specified in Schedule 2.
	2002/1077 The Overseas Territories (Zimbabwe) (Restrictive Measures Order 2002.
	Purpose: To impose certain restrictive measures against the Government of Zimbabwe and those individuals who bear a wide responsibility for the serious violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in that country.
	2002/1252(c34) The British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (Commencement) Order 2002.
	Purpose: This Order brings into force those provisions of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 which are not already in force.
	2002/1618 The Consular Fees Act 1980 (Fees) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To increase visa fees in the UK.
	2002/1627 The Consular Fees Order 2002.
	Purpose: To increase existing fees for passports in the UK.
	2002/1822 The Anti Terrorism (Financial and Other Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To make provision for equivalent legislation to that of the UK on counter- terrorist financing for six Overseas Territories. Anguilla, the Falkland Islands, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
	2002/1823 The Extradition (Overseas Territories) Order 2002.
	2002/1824 The Extradition (Overseas Territories) (Hong Kong) Order 2002. 2002/1825 The Extradition (Overseas Territories) (Application to Hong Kong) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To update extradition relations between the Overseas Territories on the one hand and UK, other Overseas Territories Commonwealth countries, Ireland and Hong Kong SAR on the other.
	2002/1826 The International Maritime Organisation (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To extend Privileges and Immunities conferred on permanent representatives on member states of the IMO and holders of five IMO posts at director level to the same level of Privileges and Immunities accorded to diplomats.
	2002/1827 The Specialized Agencies of the United Nations (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To accord a refund of insurance premium tax and air passenger duty paid by the International Labour Organisation in the exercise of its official duties.
	2002/1828 International Immunities and Privileges: The United Nations and International Court of Justice (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To provide for refunds of insurance premium tax and air passenger duty paid by the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.
	2002/2054 The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2002.
	Purpose: To add further restricted areas to schedule 1 of the Antarctic Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/490) and to modify an existing one. These amendments give effect to a Measure adopted by the most recent meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties (AntarcticTreaty Consultative Meeting XXV, Poland, September 2002).
	2002/2627 The Overseas Territories (Zimbabwe (Restrictive Measures) (Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: This Order amends the Overseas Territories (Zimbabwe) (Restrictive Measures) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/1077)
	2002/2628 The Somalia (United Nations Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: UN Security Council resolution 1425(2002) was adopted unanimously on 22 July 2002. Paragraph 2 of the resolution extends the existing arms embargo on Somalia (imposed by resolution 733(1992) as amended by resolution 1356(2001) to prohibit the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities. The Order implements the mandatory provisions in paragraph 2 of resolution 1425 in the UK.
	2002/2631 The Somalia (United Nations Sanctions) (Amendment) (Overseas Territories) Order 2002.
	Purpose: UN Security Council resolution 1425(2002) was adopted unanimously on 22 July 2002. Paragraph 2 of the resolution extends the existing arms embargo on Somalia (imposed by resolution 733(1992) as amended by resolution 1356(2001) to prohibit the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities. The Order implements the mandatory provisions in paragraph 2 of resolution 1425 in the Overseas Territories. 2002/2637 The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Amendment) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To amend the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands to remove provisions which allow for capital punishment in the Turks and Caicos Islands
	2002/2841 The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member states, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Order 2002.
	Purpose: To specify for the purposes of the European Communities Act 1972 the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and its member States and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
	2002/3132 The Merchant Shipping (Confirmation of Legislation) (Bermuda) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To confirm the Merchant Shipping Act 2002, which is the legislation enacted on Bermuda to repeal the application of the remaining provisions of the UK Merchant Shipping Act 1894 which still apply to Bermuda.
	2002/3139 The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation between the European Community and its Member States and the Republic of South Africa) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To specify for the purposes of the European Communities Act 1972 the Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation between the EC and its member States and the Republic of South Africa
	2002/3147 The Merchant Shipping (Revocation) (Bermuda) Order 2002.
	Purpose: To revoke thirteen statutory instruments applying UK merchant shipping legislation to Bermuda. The relevant provisions will be replaced by the local legislation enacted on Bermuda.
	2003/433 The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2003
	Purpose: To make provision for the work of the Air Safety Support International (ASSI) which is being established to improve aviation safety regulation in the Overseas Territories.
	2003/456 The Bermuda Constitution (Amendment) Order 2003
	Purpose: To amend the Constitution of Bermuda to give legal effect to recommendations of the local Constituency Boundaries Commission. The Commission recommended the establishment of 36 single-member constituencies, with defined boundaries, for elections to the House of Assembly.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the attacks by government-backed Arab militants upon the Fur people of Darfur in western Sudan; what discussions he will have with the Sudanese Government concerning these attacks; and what benchmarks will be used to determine progress made in these discussions.

Bill Rammell: There have been persistent reports of fighting in Darfur. The British Embassy in Khartoum will continue to monitor the situation. They are in contact with a wide range of government and National Congress party officials in addition to Darfur MPs and other local representatives. Our Embassy in Khartoum has requested permission to visit Darfur and will do so as soon as possible.
	We discussed the situation in Darfur most recently with the Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of the EU/Sudan dialogue on 27 March. He reported that the Government of Sudan has established mechanisms to resolve peacefully the situation in Darfur. We have no separate benchmarks to assess progress.

Sudan

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) the mandate of Gerhart Baum, UN Special Rapporteur on Sudan and (b) the human rights status accorded to Sudan by the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Bill Rammell: We take a close interest and play an active role in the promotion of human rights in Sudan. This includes our strong support for the work of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) there. The UK has until now been the main contributor of funding for the Office of the HCHR in Khartoum. As a member of the EU, the UK has consistently supported successive EU-sponsored resolutions at the UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN General Assembly. We believe that it is important to maintain the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as part of the general effort to improve the human rights situation in Sudan. The UNCHR is currently discussing human rights in Sudan in Geneva.

Sudan

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether operations have recommenced in oil concessions 5a and 5b in southern Sudan.

Bill Rammell: Work has resumed in block 5a in the areas which were abandoned in January 2002. In block 5b no work is under way or planned.

Sunset Clauses

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the sunset clauses included in legislation from his Department since 1997.

Jack Straw: None.

Travel Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of travel by train by staff in his Department in 2002.

Bill Rammell: Total train travel costs are not readily identifiable from the FCO's current accounting systems. Subject to final audit, the total of train travel in the UK which has been booked through the FCO's rail desk and by the use of rail warrants is £440,650 for the 2002–03 financial year.

Visas

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for each British post abroad which operates a pre-sift system for people applying for visit visas, how many people (a) were advised to withdraw their applications and (b) followed that advice in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003 up to the latest date for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: We do not record the number of applicants who are advised to withdraw their application at the pre-assessment stage. To ask Posts to provide this information now would require them to carry out a manual search of their records. This could be done only at disproportionate cost. However, it is now our policy to minimise the use of pre-assessment.
	The number of applications actually withdrawn at Posts operating a pre-sift/assessment from 2001 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  January 2001 to March 2001(17) April 2001 to March 2002(18) April to December 2002(19) January 2003 
		
		
			 Abidjan 0 0 0 0 
			 Abu Dhabi 24 305 165 0 
			 Abuja 101 569 0 0 
			 Accra 2,176 12,107 7,224 23 
			 Addis Ababa 16 62 23 20 
			 Algiers 590 0 1,204 0 
			 Almaty 0 0 0 0 
			 Amman 98 756 — — 
			 Amsterdam 13 78 12 3 
			 Ankara 3 0 0 — 
			 Antananarivo — 0 — 0 
			 Ascension/St. Helena(20) — 0 — — 
			 Ashgabat — 0 0 — 
			 Athens — 10 30 1 
			 Bahrain 3 129 6 0 
			 Baku — 0 0 0 
			 Bamako — 0 — — 
			 Bandar Seri Begawan — 0 0 0 
			 Bangkok 0 0 52 0 
			 Banjul 357 1,482 99 2 
			 Beirut 0 0 0 0 
			 Belgrade 55 175 32 14 
			 Belompan — 0 — — 
			 Berlin — 0 0 0 
			 Berne — 0 — 16 
			 Bogota 0 1,181 219 0 
			 Bombay 767 7,584 10,109 281 
			 Brasilia — 0 0 0 
			 Bratislava 0 897 146 0 
			 Bridgetown — 0 0 0 
			 Brussels 0 0 0 0 
			 Bucharest 608 2,964 1,804 99 
			 Budapest 0 0 0 0 
			 Buenos Aires — 0 0 0 
			 Cairo 61 112 63 4 
			 Calcutta 76 935 820 0 
			 Canberra 0 0 0 0 
			 Caracas — 0 0 0 
			 Casablanca 86 689 934 81 
			 Chicago 0 0 7 0 
			 Colombo 89 461 160 — 
			 Copenhagen 9 154 113 17 
			 Dakar 1 8 17 0 
			 Damascus 137 898 506 19 
			 Dar es Salaam 97 244 648 90 
			 Dhaka 188 1,668 636 0 
			 Doha 0 0 0 — 
			 Dubai 34 167 26 7 
			 Dublin 0 0 0 0 
			 Dusseldorf 176 518 510 47 
			 Ekaterinburg 0 0 0 0 
			 Freetown — 0 0 0 
			 Gaborone — 0 — 2 
			 Geneva 40 393 378 25 
			 Georgetown 0 0 0 0 
			 Gibraltar(20) — 0 — — 
			 Guangzhou 0 0 0 0 
			 Guatemala City — 0 0 0 
			 Hamilton(20) — 0 — — 
			 Hanoi 0 0 0 — 
			 Harare 0 0 0 0 
			 Havana 0 0 0 0 
			 Helsinki — 24 0 0 
			 Hong Kong 0 0 0 0 
			 Honiara — 0 3 2 
			 Islamabad 4,008 16,466 3,824 545 
			 Istanbul 0 0 0 0 
			 Jakarta 0 0 0 0 
			 Jeddah 0 0 0 0 
			 Jerusalem 0 0 — 0 
			 Kampala 120 1,915 1,717 0 
			 Karachi 321 6,316 3 0 
			 Kathmandu 0 0 113 0 
			 Khartoum 0 0 0 0 
			 Kiev 36 144 81 2 
			 Kigali — 0 0 0 
			 Kingston 133 848 122 0 
			 Kinshasa — 0 0 0 
			 Kuala Lumpur 0 0 0 0 
			 Kuwait 0 0 0 0 
			 La Paz — 6 2 6 
			 Lagos 90 3,240 2,516 316 
			 Lahore — 4,411 — — 
			 Lilongwe — 0 25 — 
			 Lima 0 19 37 10 
			 Lisbon — 0 0 0 
			 Los Angeles 464 1,517 971 72 
			 Luanda 34 0 0 0 
			 Lusaka 0 0 28 — 
			 Luxembourg — 0 0 — 
			 Madras 390 1,430 — — 
			 Madrid 56 260 222 — 
			 Managua — 0 0 — 
			 Manila 12 9 0 — 
			 Maputo — 0 — — 
			 Maseru — 0 0 — 
			 Mbabane — 0 0 — 
			 Mexico City 0 0 0 — 
			 Minsk 0 0 0 — 
			 Montevideo — 0 0 — 
			 Moscow 0 0 0 — 
			 Muscat 0 0 0 0 
			 Nairobi 0 0 288 — 
			 Nassau — 0 0 — 
			 New Delhi 2,078 10,902 7,881 — 
			 New York 0 0 0 — 
			 Nicosia 0 0 619 — 
			 Nuku Alofa — 0 — — 
			 Oslo 3 1 — — 
			 Ottawa 0 0 0 — 
			 Panama City — 0 0 — 
			 Paris 556 2,200 545 0 
			 Peking 61 0 0 — 
			 Port Louis 0 0 0 — 
			 Port Moresby — 0 — — 
			 Port of Spain 0 0 0 — 
			 Prague 0 0 0 — 
			 Pretoria 0 0 0 — 
			 Quito 39 132 192 — 
			 Rabat — 0 0 — 
			 Rangoon — 4 7 — 
			 Reykjavik — 0 0 — 
			 Riga 0 0 0 — 
			 Rio de Janeiro — 0 0 — 
			 Riyadh 0 0 0 — 
			 Rome 0 0 157 — 
			 San Jose — 0 0 — 
			 San Salvador — 0 — — 
			 Sana'a 53 150 77 — 
			 Santiago — 0 0 — 
			 Santo Domingo 0 0 0 — 
			 Sarajevo 1 0 3 — 
			 Seoul — 0 0 — 
			 Shanghai 0 0 0 — 
			 Singapore 0 0 0 0 
			 Skopje 0 0 3,940 — 
			 Sofia 0 2,266 654 — 
			 St. Petersburg 0 0 0 — 
			 Stanley(20) — 0 — — 
			 Stockholm 42 114 0 — 
			 Suva — 0 — — 
			 Taipei 0 0 0 — 
			 Tallinn — 0 0 — 
			 Tangier — 0 — — 
			 Tashkent 0 0 0 — 
			 Tbilisi 0 0 0 — 
			 Tegucigalpa — 0 0 — 
			 Tehran 336 2,944 1,935 — 
			 Tel Aviv — 0 0 — 
			 Tirana 0 8 0 0 
			 Tokyo 0 0 1 0 
			 Tripoli 0 117 65 — 
			 Tunis 119 576 174 — 
			 Ulaan Baatar — 0 0 — 
			 Valletta — 0 0 — 
			 Victoria — 0 0 — 
			 Vienna 0 1 0 — 
			 Vila — 0 1 — 
			 Vilnius — 1 0 — 
			 Warsaw 0 0 0 — 
			 Washington 0 2 1 — 
			 Wellington 29 107 136 — 
			 Windhoek — 0 0 — 
			 Yaounde 0 0 0 — 
			 Yerevan — 0 0 — 
			 Zagreb 31 116 85 — 
			 Total 14,817 90,792 48,822 1,704 
		
	
	Notes:
	(17) The January to March 2001 figures are based on the monthly statistical returns received from the 109 largest Entry Clearance posts. To answer this question for all 164 posts we would have to ask those additional posts to extract the information requested. As these posts tend to be the smaller posts it is unlikely that many of them will pre-sift applications.
	(18) The April 2001-March 2002 figures are based on annual financial year statistical reports received from all 166 Entry Clearance posts.
	(19) From April 2002 all Entry Clearance posts were required to send in monthly statistical returns. The figures provided for April to December 2002 are based on these returns.
	(20) These posts only complete annual returns.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other Commonwealth governments on Zimbabwe.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular dialogue with our Commonwealth partners about the situation in Zimbabwe. My noble Friend Baroness Amos visited South Africa and Botswana from 31 March to 4 April, and is in contact with other African leaders. We have made clear to our Commonwealth partners that we see no justification for lifting Zimbabwe's suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Advertising Campaigns

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns between April 2002 and March 2003; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to (a) television, (b) radio and (c) print media.

David Blunkett: The total spending on Vehicle Crime, Police Recruitment, Child Protection on the Internet and Firearms Amnesty campaigns in the 2002–03 financial year was £8,507,000.It is broken down as follows:
	
		Cost £000
		
			  (i) TV (ii) Radio (iii) Print 
		
		
			 Vehicle Crime 2,605 900 67 
			 Police Recruitment 2,585 440 878 
			 Child Protection—on the Internet 335 250 30 
			 Firearms Amnesty — 230 187 
			 Total 5,525 1,820 1,162

Arrests Without Charge

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested but not charged during the last five years broken down by (a) offence, (b) age, (c) ethnic origin and (d) gender; and what percentage of these individuals were arrested in connection with recordable offences.

Bob Ainsworth: Statistics are collected on arrests for notifiable offences by offence group, age, gender and ethnicity. The statistics do not record what action followed the arrest, nor do they cover arrests for recordable offences.

Asylum Seekers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is taken to inform asylum seekers of hard cases support.

Beverley Hughes: No specific information is currently given to failed asylum seekers about the possible provision of accommodation under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, as amended.
	The Home Office communicates information about hard case support with the Refugee Council in the first instance. Asylum seekers can also seek advice from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate helpline. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is in the process of publishing more detailed guidance on eligibility for the provision of accommodation under section 4.

Asylum Seekers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been paid (a) in total, (b) to private sector contractors and (c) to public sector contractors for accommodation provided for asylum seekers by the National Asylum Support Service in each year since the establishment of the service.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 3 April 2003
	The information is reproduced in the table. Figures for the private sector include two non-profit making organisations. Figures for the financial year 2002–03 are not yet available.
	
		£ million
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Local authorities 12 66 
			 Private sector(21) 46 153 
			 Total 58 219 
		
	
	(21) Including non-profit making organisations.

Asylum Seekers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers the Home Office has placed through Clearsprings Ltd. in the last two years.

Beverley Hughes: The statistical information requested is not available.

Asylum Seekers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of employment of asylum seekers is in the UK.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not available. Statistics on employment are not broken down by immigration status. Asylum seekers who had not applied for permission to work prior to 23 July 2002 are not entitled to work.
	Information is not available on the numbers who previously sought asylum and were granted permission to work under the employment concession (which was abolished on 23 July 2002), and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. The concession allowed asylum seekers who had waited at least six months for an initial decision on their claim to apply for permission to work.
	The concession was established when widespread delays occurred in the asylum system, and we always made it clear that we would review its operation in light of our on-going reforms to the asylum system. By the time I announced its abolition in July, it had become largely irrelevant and applicable to only a minority of applicants. In 2002 the number of asylum seekers awaiting an initial decision fell to the lowest level for more than 10 years.
	Provisional data shows that 60 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in 2001–02 had initial decisions reached and served within two months, 78 per cent. within four months and 84 per cent. within six months. We are committed, with our programme of increased resources and on-going legislative reforms, to further improving the speed of the system for new applicants.
	We also believe that while we continued to operate the concession, an incorrect perception existed that all asylum seekers had permission to work while their cases were considered.

Asylum Seekers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ethnic background will be of asylum seekers the Home Office plans to place in Sedgmoor.

Beverley Hughes: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) bases its dispersal policy around the language groups that a cluster area is able to accommodate and for which there are local support services available. Dispersal to cluster areas does not take place solely on the ethnic background of an asylum seeker. The language groups for the Taunton and Bridgwater cluster area of which Sedgmoor is a part are still being finalised at present following consultation between NASS and the local consortia.

Asylum Seekers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the number of asylum seekers that should be placed in towns in relation to the population of those towns.

Beverley Hughes: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is committed to a full consultation process with the regional consortia on dispersal strategy. NASS consults with the consortia as to the number of asylum seekers that each cluster or region can successfully accommodate both from the integration angle and without causing/increasing racial tension in an area. The aim is to achieve a proportionate dispersal of asylum seekers both within cluster areas and across the United Kingdom.

Asylum Seekers

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2003, Official Report, column 572W, on asylum seekers, which district council wards fall within the Taunton and Bridgwater cluster; and what the total population is of the area covered by the wards.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 7 April 2003
	The following list shows the district council wards that fall within the Taunton and Bridgwater cluster area. The population estimate for Taunton and Bridgwater cluster area is 99,700.
	Taunton
	Bishops Hull
	Lydeard
	Blackbrook
	Holway
	Blackdown
	Bradford on Tone
	Comeytrowe
	Eastgate
	Fairwater
	Halcon
	Killams and Mountfield
	Lyngford
	Manor and Wilton
	Milverton and North Deane
	Monument
	Nerouche
	North Curry
	Norton Fitzwarren
	Pyrland and Rowbarton
	Ruishton and Creeche
	Staple Grove
	Stoke St. Gregory
	Trull
	Wellington East
	Wellington North
	Wellington Rockwell Green and West
	West Monkton
	Wiveliscombe and West Deane
	Bridgwater
	Bridgwater Bower
	Bridgwater Eastover
	Bridgwater Hamp
	Bridgwater Quantock
	Bridgwater Sydenham
	Bridgwater Victoria

Burglary (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been awarded to schemes under the reducing burglary initiative in Buckinghamshire in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what targets have been set to reduce crime under the schemes.

Bob Ainsworth: The Reducing Burglary Initiative (part of the Crime Reduction Programme) ran from 1999 to 2002, and the last projects were approved in January 2001. Under the initiative we funded a total of four projects in Buckinghamshire.
	In 1999–2000, under round 1 of the initiative, two linked projects in High Wycombe were awarded funding. One project, in the Castlefield area, was awarded £59,677, with a further £11,623 awarded in 2000–01. The other project, in the Downley area, was awarded £59,677, with a further £10,323 awarded in 2000–01. Between them, the projects aimed to reduce burglary by 20 per cent.
	In 2000–01, under round 2, funding was awarded to two projects in Milton Keynes. One project, in Fenny Stratford Ward, was awarded £7,560; it aimed to reduce burglary in a small residential neighbourhood by 20 per cent. The second project, in Netherfield, was awarded £35,000 and aimed to reduce burglary by 30 per cent.

Command Paper 5778

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders have participated in family group conferencing since its inception in 1999 as set out in paragraph 2.17 of Command Paper 5778.

Hilary Benn: Family group conferencing is one of a range of restorative approaches available to Youth Offending Teams to engage young offenders and their families to prevent re-offending. National figures are not available on family group conferencing but, as an example of its local development, in Essex between June 2000 and the end of March 2003, 77 family group conferences have taken place and eight are pending.

Commercial Confidentiality

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to civil servants on how to deal with claims from organisations that the information they provide to the Department is commercially confidential.

David Blunkett: The issue of the commercial confidentiality of information received from organisations only becomes relevant if the question arises as to whether the information should be disclosed to another party. In such cases, the Home Office will respond in line with guidance on how to deal with commercially confidential information outlined in The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	The Code of Practice contains a specific exemption—exemption 13—that protects commercially confidential information from being disclosed. In assessing whether information ought to be withheld under this exemption, officials must determine:
	(1) Whether the disclosure of such information could harm the competitive position of a third party.
	(2) Whether the information has been given in confidence, and publicising it would constitute a breach of such confidence.
	(3) Whether the disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to prejudice the Department's competitive position or negotiations, or the effective conduct of commercial or contractual activities.
	It is ultimately up to the Department to decide on disclosure of commercially confidential information. Each case is assessed on its own merits in accordance with the guidance laid in the Code of Practice.

Community Support Officers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) the Metropolitan Police Authority regarding community support officers.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has recently met with the Metropolitan Police Authority and with the Mayor of London. Community Support Officers were discussed at these meetings.

Community Support Officers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers are being assigned to the outer London boroughs; and how many (a) have been assigned and (b) are planned to be assigned to the London Borough of Havering.

Bob Ainsworth: The posting of Community Support Officers (CSOs) within the Metropolitan Police District is a matter for the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Commissioner of police of the Metropolis. I have been informed by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) that the CSOs recruited from the first funding round have been assigned to the following boroughs:
	
		
			 Borough CSOs 
		
		
			 Barnet 8 
			 Brent 10 
			 Croydon 10 
			 Ealing 8 
			 Greenwich 10 
			 Hackney 11 
			 Hammersmith 8 
			 Haringey 11 
			 Islington 10 
			 Lewisham 10 
			 Southwark 14 
			 Enfield 9 
			 Camden 30 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 30 
			 Lambeth 21 
			 Westminster 200 
			 Tower Hamlets 20 
			 Newham 40 
			 Heathrow 40 
		
	
	No CSOs have been assigned to Havering.
	Later this month I will be considering the second round of bids for funding CSOs from forces throughout England and Wales including the MPS.

Contractors (Ashfield)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the financial penalties imposed on the contractor for HMYOI Ashfield exceeded the ceiling of 5 per cent. of annual fees due to the contractor (a) for the financial years (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (b) to date during 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 4 April 2003
	No financial penalties have reached the ceiling of 5 per cent. of the annual fee. The contract does not allow for financial penalties in excess of the 5 per cent. ceiling.

Criminal Justice Bill

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Kevin Brennan), of 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 702W, on the Criminal Justice Bill, what research he used to reach his estimates of the numbers of juveniles likely to be affected by the new provisions.

Hilary Benn: The estimates took account of the numbers of juveniles who are currently sentenced for the offences included in Schedule 12 of the Criminal Justice Bill. Those numbers were taken from Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 2001.

Criminal Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new criminal offences have been created since May 1997.

Hilary Benn: Although the Home Office is responsible for scrutinising proposals for new offences, no comprehensive records are kept centrally of all new offences by all government departments. The following information therefore relates only to Home Office measures which have been enacted since 1 May 1997.
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created two new offences: breach of anti-social behaviour orders and breach of sex offender orders. It also created nine racially-aggravated offences (amended by the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 to "racially or religiously aggravated offences"), but these are based on existing offences and do not render unlawful behaviour which would otherwise have been lawful. The Data Protection Act 1998 created four new offences.
	The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 created 12 new offences. The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 created four new offences. The Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999 created one new offence.
	The Terrorism Act 2000 created 38 new offences. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 created four new criminal offences. The Football (Disorder) Act 2000 created two new criminal offence. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 created three new criminal offences.
	The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 created 69 new criminal offences. The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 created three new criminal offences. The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 created two new criminal offences.
	The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 created 12 new criminal offences. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 created 10 new offences. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 created 19 new offences. The International Criminal Court Act 2001 created two new criminal offences.
	The Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act 2002 created five new criminal offences. The Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 created 19 new criminal offences. The Police Reform Act 2002 created 23 new criminal offences. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 created 28 new criminal offences.

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding (a) standard and (b) enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosures there were in each of the last three months; and how many were over (i) three weeks and (ii) six weeks old in each month.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 20 March 2003
	The information sought by the hon. Member is not available in the format requested. There are no IT procedures at present to differentiate between Standard and Enhanced Disclosures that are outstanding. The following is a breakdown for the last three months which shows the total number of outstanding Disclosures held by the Criminal Records Bureau, and details how many were over three weeks and six weeks old. These figures do not include the applications where applicants have been asked to provide further information.
	
		
			 Month end Total outstanding 3–6 weeks Over 6 weeks 
		
		
			 December 2002 152,374 28,634 71,567 
			 January 2003 131,255 8,933 53,754 
			 February 2003 121,335 15,696 33,651

Departmental Catering Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by the Department in 2002.

Beverley Hughes: In financial year 2002–03 a subsidy of £179,000 was paid for provision of canteen and catering services to the Home Office's main central London estate. This is in line with the reduction in subsidy forecast in the Department's previous answer on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 348W. The services, including two restaurants and a snack bar, can be accessed by all staff within the Home Office group comprising up to 5,000 based in the central London buildings as well as those visiting from elsewhere.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002.

Beverley Hughes: The provisional estimate of expenditure (subject to audit) for the Home Office and Agencies during 2002–03 was £46,300. This does not include expenditure by Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs)—collection of this data could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the pay review in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In response to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Task Force "Just Pay" report, the Government has committed all departments and agencies to review their pay systems by April 2003 and prepare action plans to close any gaps. The Cabinet Office issued comprehensive guidance in January 2002 to assist departments and agencies in carrying out these reviews. Additional guidance on the completing of action plans was issued in early March 2003. The Home Office and its agencies will be completing their reviews by April 2003 followed by their action plans to close any equal pay gaps.

DNA Database

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA profiles are held on the UK national DNA database; and how many DNA samples have been retained.

Bob Ainsworth: The total number of profiles held on the database at 25 March 2003 was 2,094,858. The Forensic Science Service calculate that these profiles relate to an estimated 1,886,000 different individuals.

DNA Database

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have their DNA held on the UK national DNA database broken down by (a) offence with which they have been charged, (b) age, (c) ethnic origin and (d) gender; and what percentage of DNA profiles held on the UK national DNA database relate to individuals who have been convicted of a recordable offence.

Bob Ainsworth: The record on the national DNA database (NDNAD) for an individual contains fields for name, age (at the time the sample was taken), ethnic origin and gender. The NDNAD does not have a reporting mechanism in place for breaking down the numbers on it according to these categories. Specialist software would need to be written to generate this data.
	A record on the NDNAD does not include the offence code associated with DNA sampling, nor does it include information as to whether the individual concerned has been convicted.

DNA Database

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of serving police officers have voluntarily provided DNA samples to be held on the UK National DNA Database; what personal data is stored with an individual's DNA profile on the UK National DNA Database; and which other databases may be linked to the UK National DNA Database by the police.

Bob Ainsworth: Regulations have recently been changed so that officers joining the police now can be required to give a DNA sample as a condition of service; for officers who joined before that change, it continues to be a voluntary matter whether they give a sample or not. Samples from police officers are added to the Police Elimination Database (RED), not to the main National DNA Database (NDNAD). As at 28 February 2003, there were 61,800 records retained on the RED from English and Welsh police forces, about 48 per cent. of the number of serving officers. The purpose of the RED is to eliminate DNA which officers may unintentionally deposit at a crime scene that they attend in the course of police duties. As a substantial proportion of officers do not attend crime scenes, they have never been asked to provide a sample. If an officer is suspected of committing a crime, they may be required to give a sample for the National DNA Database in the same circumstances as other members of the public.
	Records on the NDNAD for an individual contain fields for name, age (at the time the sample was taken), ethnic origin and gender.
	A permanent link between the Police National Computer and the NDNAD was created in November 2001 to ensure that data regarding the eligibility of individuals for DNA sampling is up-to-date. No other links exist.

DNA Database

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response the Government have made to the Human Genetics Commission's recommendations in their report, Inside Information, of May 2002, that (a) the Government should promote a greater degree of dialogue about the justification for the apparent increase in the range of offences for which DNA samples may be taken, (b) the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers establish an independent body, including lay membership, to oversee the work of the national DNA database custodian and the profile suppliers and (c) consideration be given to the creation of a criminal offence of the non-consensual or deceitful obtaining and analysis of personal genetic information for non-medical purposes.

Bob Ainsworth: The Government response to the main recommendations of the Human Genetics Commission report will be published shortly. This response will address the issues raised by my hon. Friend at points (b) and (c).
	Under the provisions of section 63 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the police may take non-intimate DNA samples from all those charged with, informed they will be reported for, or convicted of a recordable offence. The police may also take a non-intimate sample from those suspected of a recordable offence where there are grounds for believing the sample will tend to confirm or disprove the suspect's involvement. There are no plans to amend the category of offences for which a non-intimate sample may be taken.
	A recordable offence is one set out in the National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No. 1139).

Elizabeth Jensko

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons for the retention by his Department of the passport of Mrs. Elizabeth Jensko, Beatty Avenue, Leicester, date of birth 30 March 1979.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office was sent the passport in question in support of an application relating to an immigration matter. Due to an unfortunate administrative oversight this passport had not been returned as swiftly as should have been the case. The passport has now been sent, along with a letter of apology for the unacceptable delay, directly to Mrs. Jensko at her home address.

Holloway Prison

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 25 March 2003, Official Report, column 151W, on staff shortages in Holloway Prison, what the financial cost was of the education hours cancelled at Holloway Prison from February 2002 to January 2003; and how many hours he estimates will be lost in the next 12 months, and at what cost.

Hilary Benn: It is estimated that the cost of lost education hours at Holloway from February 2002 to January 2003 is £145,883. It is anticipated that approximately 834 education hours will be lost at Holloway over the next 12 months at a cost of £29,430. This is based on the need to close education one day each month to provide staff with the training necessary to operate in a prison environment.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last visited the Public Enquiry Office at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary visited the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Public Enquiry Office in Croydon on 26 June 2001.
	I visited the Public Enquiry Office on 20 June 2002.
	I receive regular reports on the overall performance of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's After Entry Casework area, including the Public Enquiry Office. I have taken a close interest in the major refurbishment of the front entrance to the Croydon Public Enquiry Office and last met officials on 10 March to discuss the details of this initiative.

Iraq

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) groups and (b) individuals he has met from the Asian community concerning the Iraq war.

Beverley Hughes: Home Office Ministers have continued to meet representatives of various minority communities as part of the Government's continuing commitment to listen to, protect and reassure all parts of our diverse multi-cultural society on a range of issues of concern to them.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, attended two events in March where he spoke on Race and Diversity and Community Cohesion issues, attended by members of the Asian community. My noble Friend (Lord Filkin), who holds lead responsibility for community relations, has met two Sikh individuals and six Muslim, Hindu and Arab groups over the same time period.
	It is important however to recognise that it is the nurturing of a variety of open communication channels between Government and a range of different representatives which is key to preserving good community relations in this country. The level and nature of this dialogue has significantly changed for the better since the previous Gulf conflict in 1991.
	Lord Filkin has recently written to leading representatives of the Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities reassuring them of the Government's commitment to providing protection to all its citizens and communities, and encouraging them to report any incident that makes them feel frightened or insecure to the police.
	We will of course continue both during and in the aftermath of the current conflict in Iraq, to give sympathetic consideration to any specific requests for meetings that we receive from individuals or groups representing particular communities.

Market Research

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure has been incurred by his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if he will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each.

Hilary Benn: The Home Office research department undertakes a wide range of research activities that support the development of information-led policy, including scientific and social research, and includes research gathered from market research and focus groups.
	The department conducts or commissions market and opinion research and focus groups only when it is justified by the specific needs of a particular policy or programme and when this is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose. Consulting and involving the public helps inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public services.
	It has not been possible to provide information on total costs as complete information is not held centrally. A table of commissioned projects involving some market and opinion research conducted 2002 held centrally has been placed in the Library.
	The Research, Development and Statistics (RDS) Conducts social research supporting all seven Home Office aims. A list of RDS publications is available on the Home Office website and copies are also placed in the Library.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many proposed negative decisions under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 have been referred to his Department's legal officers for confirmation since 18 March 2003; and what is the estimated cost to his Department to date of this practice;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003 to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey, Official Report, column 711W, when he plans to release statistics on the operation of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002;
	(3)  how many persons refused NASS support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 since 18 March 2003 have subsequently re-applied for such support, having failed to obtain alternative means of support from charitable or other sources; and how many such applications have been successful.

Beverley Hughes: Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, came into force on 8 January 2003. Subject to quality assurance of the data, it is planned to publish information on the operation of section 55 within the quarterly asylum statistics at the end of May 2003.
	The Home Office's Legal Advisor's Branch has provided legal support for the operation of section 55. Any legal costs incurred have been subsumed within normal salary costs.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information on where to seek charitable or other support is given by NASS to those refused NASS support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Beverley Hughes: Information on alternative support arrangements that may be provided by charities and other organisations is widely available to asylum applicants refused by the National Asylum Support Service support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Advice on specific options in the area and sources of further information is given on request.

Political Asylum Claimants

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with Gosport borough council concerning the possible use of the Daedalus site as an accommodation centre for political asylum claimants.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 7 April 2003
	I met the Leader and Chief Executive of Gosport borough council on 20 March. There have been four further meetings between representatives of my Department and Gosport borough council since February.

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the population per police officer was in each year since 1997 in each police force area in England and Wales.

Bob Ainsworth: The table gives population per police officer in each police force area in England and Wales in each year from 1997 to 2002.
	
		
			 Force 31 March 1997 31 March 1998 31 March 1999 31 March 2000 31 March 2001 31 March 2002 30 September 2002 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 490 493 493 507 501 488 476 
			 Bedfordshire 499 509 530 541 543 529 522 
			 Cambridgeshire 533 545 559 582 559 536 508 
			 Cheshire 478 480 474 489 491 478 474 
			 Cleveland 383 376 393 396 395 381 364 
			 Cumbria 429 422 437 455 470 446 439 
			 Derbyshire 535 543 549 546 534 529 486 
			 Devon and Cornwall 538 521 537 549 535 520 502 
			 Dorset 529 521 538 529 511 506 495 
			 Durham 416 401 388 390 380 376 358 
			 Essex(22) 509 517 527 547 558 553 541 
			 Gloucestershire 488 504 507 500 479 478 482 
			 Greater Manchester 373 371 378 379 373 358 338 
			 Hampshire 505 502 507 518 518 513 495 
			 Hertfordshire(22) 488 496 506 497 543 576 544 
			 Humberside 435 439 448 457 460 428 411 
			 Kent 476 479 489 491 478 476 460 
			 Lancashire 439 437 439 449 438 433 419 
			 Leicestershire 474 468 466 466 460 447 443 
			 Lincolnshire 511 517 544 559 523 529 534 
			 City of London(23)
			 Merseyside 337 337 336 345 344 340 331 
			 Metropolitan Police(22) 272 281 284 293 285 273 260 
			 Norfolk 540 544 567 572 561 548 539 
			 Northamptonshire 509 517 537 551 537 516 525 
			 Northumbria 391 381 372 376 368 360 345 
			 North Yorkshire 546 537 552 578 573 532 535 
			 Nottinghamshire 444 444 464 468 454 443 424 
			 South Yorkshire 413 410 412 412 407 407 394 
			 Staffordshire 478 461 474 489 498 497 483 
			 Suffolk 557 558 560 586 596 565 545 
			 Surrey(22) 479 483 472 441 522 543 533 
			 Sussex 474 491 522 531 531 526 510 
			 Thames valley 554 547 557 561 571 566 546 
			 Warwickshire 539 542 555 563 548 526 503 
			 West Mercia 546 556 556 602 585 568 566 
			 West Midlands 371 369 359 365 354 341 325 
			 West Yorkshire 404 409 424 438 439 434 416 
			 Wiltshire 512 513 521 542 545 530 526 
			 Dyfed Powys 472 476 466 461 456 426 427 
			 Gwent 364 451 447 441 437 418 416 
			 North Wales 481 470 472 469 455 438 443 
			 South Wales 447 413 415 424 394 387 380 
			 Total of 43 forces 414 417 422 430 427 416 402 
			 Total including secondments 408 410 414 422 419 409 396 
		
	
	(22) These forces have been affected by the boundary changes which took place in April 2000.
	(23) The population per police officer for City of London is included in the Metropolitan Police.

Police

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations.

Bob Ainsworth: The Police Pension (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2003, which came into force on 1 April, amended certain provisions in the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 in order to underpin the new procedures agreed by the Police Negotiating Board on 30 January for the fairer and more consistent management of ill-health retirement. We consulted the Police Negotiating Board on the draft amendment regulations before they were made, but apart from drafting points we have received no representations about them.

Prison Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations made by Patrick Carter in his Review of PFI and Market Testing in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Carter report, a copy of which was placed in the Library on 26 February 2002, was welcomed by Ministers at the time of its publication. Much work has been done to develop the issues raised in the recommendations, particularly those involving the development of a performance improvement programme and the development of large-scale multi-function prisons.

Prison Service

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in each prison are sharing (a) two to a cell designed for one and (b) three to a cell designed for two.

Hilary Benn: The following table shows the number of prisoners in each prison held two to a cell designed for one at the end of February 2003. Data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.
	The Prison Service does not collect centrally the number of prisoners held three in a double cell. Overall, the percentage of prisoners doubling up was 20.2.
	
		
			 Prison name Two to a cell designed for one 
		
		
			 Altcourse 776 
			 Askham Grange 0 
			 Acklington 0 
			 Albany 0 
			 Ashfield 0 
			 Ashwell 12 
			 Aylesbury 0 
			 Belmarsh 0 
			 Blundeston 40 
			 Bedford 272 
			 Blantyre House 0 
			 Brockhill 0 
			 Bristol 90 
			 Birmingham 398 
			 Bullingdon 128 
			 Brinsford 48 
			 Blakenhurst 226 
			 Bullwood Hall 8 
			 Brixton 234 
			 Buckley Hall 22 
			 Chelmsford 302 
			 Cardiff 528 
			 Camp Hill 0 
			 Cookham Wood 36 
			 Coldingley 0 
			 Castington 0 
			 Channings Wood 38 
			 Canterbury 218 
			 Dartmoor 50 
			 Dovegate 30 
			 Drake Hall 0 
			 Durham 330 
			 Doncaster 0 
			 Dorchester 192 
			 Deerbolt 0 
			 Dover 0 
			 Downview 0 
			 Erlestoke 0 
			 Standford Hill 0 
			 East Sutton Park 0 
			 Everthorpe 0 
			 Eastwood Park 28 
			 Exeter 0 
			 Elmley 240 
			 Forest Bank 0 
			 Ford 0 
			 Frankland 0 
			 Feltham 0 
			 Full Sutton 0 
			 Foston Hall 0 
			 Featherstone 24 
			 Garth 20 
			 Gloucester 198 
			 Guys Marsh 68 
			 Grendon 0 
			 Glen Parva 372 
			 Gartree 0 
			 Hollesley Bay 0 
			 Huntercombe 0 
			 Hatfield 0 
			 Hewell Grange 0 
			 Holme House 234 
			 Hindley 10 
			 Hull 200 
			 High Down 0 
			 Highpoint 54 
			 Haslar 0 
			 Haverigg 14 
			 Holloway 0 
			 Kirkham 0 
			 Kirklevington 0 
			 Lancaster 176 
			 Leicester 320 
			 Leeds 946 
			 Lancaster Farms 32 
			 Lindholme 0 
			 Lincoln 246 
			 Long Lartin 0 
			 Latchmere House 0 
			 Low Newton 70 
			 Lowdham Grange 16 
			 Liverpool 512 
			 Littlehey 72 
			 Lewes 138 
			 Leyhill 0 
			 Moorland 56 
			 Morton Hall 0 
			 Manchester 708 
			 Maidstone 0 
			 Mount 110 
			 New Hall 64 
			 Nottingham 316 
			 Northallerton 150 
			 North Sea Camp 0 
			 Norwich 370 
			 Onley 0 
			 Portland 0 
			 Parkhurst 0 
			 Preston 610 
			 Parc 0 
			 Kingston 0 
			 Pentonville 418 
			 Rochester 0 
			 Reading 176 
			 Rye Hill 74 
			 Ranby 190 
			 Risley 0 
			 Send 0 
			 Stafford 418 
			 Stoke Heath 204 
			 Stocken 26 
			 Swaleside 26 
			 Shepton Mallet 38 
			 Swinfen Hall 0 
			 Styal 28 
			 Sudbury 0 
			 Swansea 270 
			 Shrewsbury 298 
			 Thorn Cross 0 
			 Usk 212 
			 Prescoed 0 
			 Verne 68 
			 Weare 0 
			 Wellingborough 0 
			 Winchester 322 
			 Wakefield 0 
			 Wealstun 0 
			 Woodhill 210 
			 Wayland 76 
			 Wymott 0 
			 Werrington 0 
			 Wolds 0 
			 Whitemoor 0 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 124 
			 Whatton 0 
			 Wandsworth 806 
			 Wetherby 0

Prison Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2003, Official Report, column 1243W, on prisons 
	(1)  how many prisoners were held in police cells in each year between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his estimate is of how many prisoners will be held in police cells each year between 2003 and 2006.

Hilary Benn: From January 1995 to May 1995 an average of 205 prisoners a month, who would normally be held in Prison Service accommodation, were held in police cells under Operation Container. No prisoners were held in police cells from mid-1995 to July 2002. From 12 July 2002 to 20 December 2002 an average of 199 prisoners a month were held in police cells under Operation Safeguard.
	It is not possible to predict how many prisoners will be held in police cells at any point in the future. The use of police cells is dependent on the population pressures at the time, and the number used can vary on a daily basis. Their use is carefully monitored by the Prison Service and every effort is made to locate prisoners held in police cells to a prison as soon as possible.

Prison Service

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of young prisoners with mental health needs since 1997 (a) had already had those needs identified and (b) were already receiving mental health services before coming into custody; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The information sought is not available in the form requested. In 2000, the Office for National Statistics published a report, 'Psychiatric Morbidity amongst Young Offenders in England and Wales', which contained further analysis of data obtained during the survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales that it undertook in 1997. This report indicated that 13 per cent. of young men on remand, 11 per cent. of sentenced young men and 29 per cent. of all young women said they had received help or treatment for mental, nervous, or emotional problems in the year before they came into prison.
	Only people who had been in prison for less than two years were asked this question because it was felt that people who had been in prison for longer would not be able to recall the information accurately.
	In comparison, 11 per cent. of young men on remand, 14 per cent. of sentenced young men and 23 per cent. of all young women reported receiving help for such problems in prison during the past year, or, if they had not been in custody that long, since coming into prison.
	Young offenders who had been receiving help for mental or emotional problems in the year before coming into prison were more likely to report receiving such help while in prison. While 29 per cent. of young men on remand and 43 per cent. of women who said they had been receiving treatment before coming into prison reported receiving treatment in prison, this was true for only 8 per cent. and 16 per cent. respectively of those who had not had treatment.

Prison Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is collected about a prisoner as part of the reception screening process; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: On the reception of a prisoner into a prison, information is collected by reception and health care staff. It includes personal details and any outstanding court appearances. An assessment is made of the prisoner's immediate physical and health care needs, and to identify recent substance abuse, and the potential for self-harm or harm to others. Prisoners are also asked about any urgent domestic issues and are permitted to make a phone call.

Prison Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of a drug prison rehabilitation programme is.

Hilary Benn: There are three different types of intensive prison drug rehabilitation programmes. The average length of treatment intervention is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Programme type Average length 
		
		
			 12-Step 12 weeks 
			 Cognitive Behavioural Treatment 15 weeks 
			 Therapeutic Community 12–18 months

Prison Service

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners entered HMP YOI Styal (a) in 2002 and (b) since January 2003 with drug misuse problems; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: On arrival at Styal prison, each prisoner sees a doctor and has an opportunity to discuss any drug misuse problem. Statistics are not routinely collected on the number of women prisoners reporting drug misuse problems. However, those members of staff working with drug misusers at Styal estimate that over the last two years approximately 75 per cent. of the total number of receptions have had drug problems.

Probation Service

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help is given to probation officers in Somerset to deal with case load.

Hilary Benn: In the Avon and Somerset probation area staff are regularly supervised by managers to assess workload issues and to enable effective workload management. The Probation Board has agreed a workload prioritisation framework with staff through their respective Trade Unions, which assists staff and managers to be clear about priorities in the event of a shortfall in resources. Specific training is provided for specialist staff.

Probation Service

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help is given to probation officers to complete case work on time.

Hilary Benn: Probation Officers benefit from a range of help to assist them in completing casework on time, including through training leading to a Diploma in Probation Studies. Home Office National Standards for the supervision of offenders in the community sets out minimum standards of expected performance. The National Probation Directorate (NPD) carries out regular performance monitoring and provides feedback to probation areas. NPD has produced a workload prioritisation framework, which has been issued to all areas, and has also developed a workload measurement project. Both of these provide guidance to areas to enable the active management of workload and ensure effective service delivery while maintaining a duty of care towards employees.

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public appointments he has made since 1 March; and if he will list them.

David Blunkett: Between 1 March and 27 March I made two appointments to public bodies as follows:
	Commission for Racial Equality: Trevor Phillips—Chair
	Parole Board: The Hon. Mr. Justice Gage—Vice Chair
	A total of nine appointments to Boards of Visitors in prison establishments in England and Wales were made between 1 March and 27 March. In accordance with established practice their names are not published for reason of personal safety.

Railways (Crime Prevention)

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he was consulted by the Strategic Rail Authority before the suspension of the Rail Passenger Partnership schemes between local authorities and train companies intended to reduce crime and public fears in and around railway stations; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport was consulted by the Strategic Rail Authority on its decision to suspend the Rail Passenger Partnership funding scheme to new bids. The SRA does not intend to terminate the RPP scheme but for the present the focus will be on seeing through existing commitments and approvals.
	Where RPP funding is used to provide improved facilities and better access at railway stations, this may provide residual benefits in reducing crime at these locations. Also, both the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department are continuing to encourage further accreditations under the secure stations scheme. The scheme is specifically designed to improve and standardise good security practices at railway stations.

Respect and Responsibility White Paper

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation he has undertaken with young people on the White Paper, "Respect and Responsibility".

Bob Ainsworth: The White Paper "Respect and Responsibility", published on 12 March, takes account of views received from a variety of practitioners and members of the public up and down the country.
	Young people are more likely to be the victims of anti-social behaviour than the perpetrators. We will continue to listen to their concerns as we take this agenda forward, in accordance with guidance to government departments issued in November 2001 "Learning to Listen: core principles for the involvement of children and young people".

Sexual Offences Bill

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with UNICEF on the Sexual Offences Bill.

Hilary Benn: Ministers at the Home Office have had no direct discussion with UNICEF on the Sexual Offences Bill. UNICEF UK has, however, provided useful contributions to the process which has brought the Bill before Parliament in the form of responses to the various consultation processes which preceded it. Most recently, UNICEF UK was one of approximately 40 organisations which responded to the publication of the command paper, 'Protecting the Public'; and one of those which responded to the recent, limited consultation on our proposals to reduce the period that sex offenders may plan to spend abroad before they are required to notify the police of their travel plans.

Staff Union Duties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002.

Hilary Benn: The Employment Protection Act 1975 gave trade union officials a statutory right to reasonable paid time off from employment to carry out trade union duties. In the Civil Service, since April 1996, departments and agencies have been given the freedom to set their own levels of facility time and make other facilities available to their trade union accredited representatives.
	In accordance with Departmental Facilities Agreements between the Home Office and recognised trade unions, 63 union representatives in the Home Office and its agencies receive up to 100 per cent. paid leave to undertake union duties. A further 820 accredited representatives are allocated 25 days a year to spend on union duties and 16 are allocated 40 days a year. Related costs in 2002 amounted to approximately £4,759,000.
	The Department values the constructive working relationships with the trade unions which provide an efficient means of involving staff at all levels in shaping and delivering our aims.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Hilary Benn: Details of the statutory instruments (SI) issued by the Home Office in the last 12 months, and those Orders in Council which originated from the Home Office, have been placed in the Library. The additional information requested could not be made available other than at disproportionate cost, but the costs to businesses will have been indicated in any Regulatory Impact Assessments previously produced.

Sunset Clauses

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the sunset clauses included in legislation from his Department since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The following sunset clauses have been included in legislation from the Home Office since 1997:
	(i) Section 5 of the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 (c.25).
	(ii) Section 112 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c.11).
	(iii) Section 15(3) of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c.16).
	(iv) Sections 29, 105, and 123 (in conjunction with section 122 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c.24).
	(v) Section 1 of the Football (Disorder) (Amendment) Act 2002 (c.12).

Travel Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of travel by train by staff was in his Department in 2002.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office is committed to ensuring that staff use the most efficient and economic means of travel commensurate with operational needs. It is the Department's policy to encourage staff to use public transport rather than private cars for official travel in accordance with the Government's policy
	on Green Transport.
	During the period 1 January to 31 December 2002, a total of £2,057,785 from public funds was spent on train travel by Home Office staff within the United Kingdom.

Under-age Drinking

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will implement the new powers for confiscating unopened alcohol containers from minors.

Bob Ainsworth: We have included a proposal in the Licensing Bill, currently before Parliament, to enable the police to confiscate sealed alcohol containers, in addition to opened containers, from young people who are drinking in a public place, or where a police officer reasonably believes that the young person intends to drink alcohol in that public place. If Parliament approves these strengthened police powers we intend to bring them into force as soon as possible following Royal Assent, which we expect during the summer.

Yarl's Wood

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments have been made under the terms of the contract to the contractor for Yarl's Wood since the facility was forced to close owing to fire damage; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: There has been no additional expenditure to date on either the buildings or security matters at Yarl's Wood since its closure on 31 March 2002. We have committed funds of about £250,000 for the design of sprinklers, associated works and the design of a new control room. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has agreed that the remaining part of the site should re-open later in the year. We expect that there will be a slow and gradual build up of the population, beginning with a small number initially.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

European Capital of Culture

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether regeneration is one of the criteria for the selection of the European City of Culture 2008; and whether regeneration is a factor which will be considered during the UK bidding process.

Richard Caborn: The proposals put forward by each of the six shortlisted cities are being considered against the European Union's criteria, which are set out in Decision 1419/1999/EC, and the additional criteria set out by the Government in the document Criteria and Information for Applicants. The city which is selected as our nomination for European Capital of Culture 2008 will be the one which, in the opinion of the independent advisory panel and the Government, best meets all the criteria and will organise the most successful year-long programme in 2008.
	Regeneration is not specifically mentioned in either the European Union's criteria or the Government's additional criteria. However, a number of the criteria relate to the development of the cultural infrastructure, architecture and the urban environment. In addressing these criteria, cities have the opportunity to demonstrate the contribution which culture can make to regeneration.

Sport England

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to develop the regionalisation of Sport England.

Richard Caborn: As a result of the recommendations in the joint DCMS/Strategy Unit Report—Game Plan—and a Quinquennial Review, Sport England is undergoing a modernisation and restructuring programme which will turn it into a more strategic and customer focussed body. The programme will involve the devolution of more responsibility for funding decisions on community sports projects to its regional offices. These offices, in conjunction with reconstituted regional sports boards which will be sub-committees of Sport England, will prepare regional sports strategies reflecting national sports priorities in consultation with all interested organisations and agencies in the region. The regional strategies will inform funding decisions in the region.

Tourism

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total Government expenditure was on tourism in the South West in the last two years.

Kim Howells: The South West Regional Development Agency spent £10,000 on tourism in 2001–01 and awarded £470,000 to be spent over two years in 2002–03. The English Tourism Council granted £536,770 (2001–02) and £537,766 (2002–03) to South West Tourism. The South West also benefits from the work of the British Tourist Authority, which received £49.7million (2001–02) and £54.5 million (2002–03) from the Department, and the English Tourism Council, which received £13.8 million (2001–02) and £15.4 million (2002–03). In addition, DCMS spends approximately £1 billion annually, including funding for museums, galleries and heritage, which benefits tourism in the South West and throughout the country.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to make the registration of accommodation providers compulsory in the UK.

Kim Howells: The Government have no such plans. Questions relating to tourism policy in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are now a matter for the devolved administrations.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which bodies were consulted in relation to the proposed changes in the tourism structure in the UK.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regularly met, and discussed tourism reform, with representatives of the tourism industry at the twice-yearly Tourism Fora and at the 24-hour Hartwell House seminar in October 2001, and its follow-up in July 2002. In the summer of 2002, I chaired a Steering Group set up to discuss the practicalities of developing a marketing function for England. This Group was representative of the importance to tourism of the regional perspective and the key role of the private sector. We have also commissioned reports on modernisation and restructuring, and on developing a domestic marketing function for England, from Groups widely representative of the tourism industry. Scottish and Welsh colleagues were consulted both before the announcement of reform on 31 October 2002 and throughout the development of the new body.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what plans she has to introduce a distinct national tourist board for England, with responsibility for marketing England, as suggested in the report, The Structure and Strategy for Supporting Tourism;
	(2)  what steps have been taken to restructure English tourism as a result of the report, The Structure and Strategy for Supporting Tourism.

Kim Howells: When the report, The Structure and Strategy for Supporting Tourism, was published on 4 February 2003, plans announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 31 October 2002 for reform of Government support for tourism were already well underway. The reform has seen the strengths and resources of the English Tourism Council and the British Tourist Authority combined in one organisation, VisitBritain, from 1 April 2003. VisitBritain has responsibility for the promotion of Britain overseas and England to the domestic market.
	In designing this structure, we have responded to industry's priorities of focusing on marketing and e-tourism. We believe that this new and more coherent structure will ensure that England receives an excellent marketing service, coordinated at national and regional level, to make the most of the collective effort of all sectors promoting tourism here and will get the best value for money for England.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 63W, on tourism, what assessment she has made of the effect military action in Iraq has had on the UK tourism industry.

Kim Howells: It is too early to make an accurate assessment of the effect of military action in Iraq on the UK tourism industry. VisitBritain has reported some nervousness about travel in overseas markets, particularly long-haul, and some airlines have reduced their capacity. A fuller assessment can be made once statistics are available.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what plans she has to increase the level of Government investment in the English Tourism Council;
	(2)  what extra funds have been made available to English tourism authorities as a result of the report, "The Structure and Strategy for Supporting Tourism".

Kim Howells: When the report, "The Structure and Strategy for Supporting Tourism", was published on 4 February 2003, plans announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 31 October 2002 for reform of Government support for tourism were already well under way. The reform has seen the strengths and resources of the English Tourism Council and the British Tourist Authority combined in one organisation, VisitBritain, from 1 April 2003.
	Within VisitBritain, English tourism will continue to receive annual baseline funding of £12 million, plus additional funds of £10 million over 3 years (2003–04—2005–06). Of the £12 million baseline, £3.6 million will be channelled to Regional Tourist Boards via Regional Development Agencies. Some of the £10 million of additional funding is contingent upon the successful delivery of reform and matched funding targets being met.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total central Government expenditure on promoting domestic tourism during 2002 was in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Kim Howells: Central Government support for domestic tourism in England during 2002 was provided via the English Tourism Council (ETC), which had no remit for promotion. In 2002, it concentrated on research and product development activity, as did Defra in respect of rural tourism. Following a review of priorities for the tourism industry, the roles of the ETC and British Tourist Authority were combined on 1 April 2003 to form VisitBritain, which will have marketing of England as its key domestic tourism role.
	Support for tourism in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved responsibility; questions relating to central Government funding should therefore be directed to each administration.

UK Sport

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial contribution was given by UK Sport to the BBC seminar at Television Centre on 25 March; what the outcome was of the seminar; when a report of the seminar will be published; and for what reason UK Sport funding was used for the seminar.

Richard Caborn: UK Sport joined forces with the BBC to establish Sport Summit. The event aimed to gather a group of those responsible for leading sport at all levels within the United Kingdom to discuss the country's strategic approach to sport.
	UK Sport contributed £60,000 towards the costs of staging the event, with the BBC contributing support in kind, by hosting the event and providing related programming across their radio and online platforms. Such events are in line with UK Sport's Royal Charter, which charges the organisation with developing cohesive strategies for furthering the interests and knowledge of sport in the United Kingdom. At present no formal report of the day has been envisaged, however, the day's proceedings were recorded and feedback forms have been received from a number of the delegates indicating wide spread support for the event. In addition UK Sport are intending to develop an action plan in conjunction with the BBC that will take forward the issues that were raised on the day.

Websites

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the (a) cost of and (b) number of visitors to each website operated by her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible in each year since its establishment.

Kim Howells: The following websites are operated by DCMS. Visitor figures are only kept for one year.
	The main DCMS website, www.culture.gov.uk received 365,305 unique visits and 5,920,848 page impressions between March 2002 and February 2003.
	
		
			 Website URL Start-up cost (£) Running cost/year (£) 
		
		
			 Communications Bill http://www.communicationsbill.gov.uk (24)0 (25)— 
			 Communications White Paper http://www.communicationswhitepaper.gov.uk 13,000 (25)— 
			 Culture Online http://www.cultureonline.gov.uk/ 24,500 (26)2,000 
			 (27)2,000  
			 DCMS (main site) http://www.culture.gov.uk 81,134 (25)— 
			 DCMS(lottery site) http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk 60,000 (25)— 
			 Digital Television http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk (24)0 (25)— 
			 Gambling Review(28) http://www.gamblingreview.gov.uk (24)0 (26)200  
			 (27)200  
			 Golden Jubilee(28) http://www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk 200,000 (26)25,000  
			 (27)12,000  
			 Golden Jubilee Media Site http://www.media.goldenjubilee.gov.uk (24)0 (29)12,000  
			 Government Art Collection http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/home/index.asp 30,500 (25)— 
		
	
	(24) In house.
	(25) Running costs for these websites are covered under one contract at £51,000 per annum.
	(26) 2001–02
	(27) 2002–03
	(28) Costs of the Golden Jubilee and Gambling Review websites were met by the Home Office and later transferred to DCMS.
	(29) One year only.
	Note:
	DCMS has over 60 NDPBs and could not collate the information requested without incurring disproportionate cost.

Working Hours

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what policy on (a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible.

Kim Howells: The Department supports a range of flexible working options aimed at helping staff to achieve a better work/life balance including part-time working, job-share, compressed hours, term-time working, homeworking and flexible working. Core hours are currently between 10 am and 12 am and 2 pm and 4 pm, although these restrictions will shortly be removed as part of our commitment to offering staff even greater flexibility.
	The Royal Parks Agency has a formal flexible policy with core times between 10 am and 12 am and 2 pm and 4 pm. We keep no central records of the flexible working policies operated by our non-departmental public bodies and it would incur disproportionate cost to collect this data.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Castlereagh Police Station

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with investigations into the break-in at Castlereagh police station last year.

Jane Kennedy: The investigation into the break-in at Castlereagh continues. A formal direction regarding the extradition of one suspect is awaited as part of the investigation. Other aspects of the inquiry to identify those responsible and bring them to justice are in progress.

Victims

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding bodies have responsibility for allocating funds to groups and organisations dealing with victims' issues; how much each such body has allocated to victims' groups in the current year; and which victims' groups have benefited.

Paul Murphy: To answer this question will require substantial research. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the information is available.

Victims

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received from groups and organisations dealing with victims' issues about levels of funding.

Paul Murphy: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Des Browne, meets regularly with victims' groups and funding is frequently one of the many issues raised. I continue to make the case for more money for victims initiatives, and groups' representations and the work they do will be taken into account in allocating any further funding that may become available. Equally, I must take account of the fact that many victims do not align themselves with victims' groups.

Victims

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take measures to streamline the procedures whereby victims' support groups apply for and obtain government funding.

Paul Murphy: Government have taken measures to streamline procedures for victims' groups applying for funding.
	The criteria for the Core Funding Scheme 2003–05 were based on the findings and recommendations of an independent evaluation of the previous scheme and on consultation with victims' groups. The Scheme was also subject to an Equality Impact Assessment. Victims' groups welcomed the consultations and were positive about the final shape of the new scheme.

Victims

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it is his policy in his dealings with victims' support groups to distinguish between (a) groups supporting victims of the Troubles and (b) groups related to terrorist organisations or individuals with terrorist backgrounds.

Paul Murphy: Government do not operate a hierarchy of victims. It is not possible to differentiate grief or hurt according to who or what a person is. We look at need and not cause.

Victims

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been provided (a) by the Government and (b) by the European Union for (i) victims' support groups and (ii) support groups closely related to terrorist organisations or individuals with terrorist backgrounds in the last five years.

Paul Murphy: To answer this question will require substantial research. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2003, Official Report, column 586W, on benefits, if he will set out the estimates that his Department had made for planning purposes prior to issuing invitation letters.

Malcolm Wicks: According to our customer research, 85 per cent. of our customers have access to a suitable bank/building society account. We expect the vast majority of these customers will opt for payment to be made into their existing account.
	Of the 15 per cent. of customers who currently do not have a suitable account we believe some will opt to open a current account, some will open a basic bank account and some will open a Post Office card account.
	We have always recognised that there will be some customers for whom Direct Payment is not an option. We are currently exploring alternative ways in which these customers could receive their money.

Benefits

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) central and (b) local government of administering council tax benefit in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Central Government's subsidy to local authorities for the administration of council tax benefit during 2000–01 amounted to £155.1 million. Of this sum, £74.2 million was funded by this Department using a formula agreed with the Local Authority Associations, and based mainly on the size of the council tax benefit caseloads, with additional elements for accommodation and staffing costs.
	The remaining £80.9 million was funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive through the Revenue Support Grant (Grant Aided Expenditure in Scotland) within their local government finance settlements.
	Reported expenditure by local authorities amounted to £229.9 million. Local authorities account for their expenditure in very different ways. For example some will provide a cost net of additional grants from the Department. Because the data reported by authorities do not reflect a uniform accounting standard across authorities, reported expenditure across all authorities may not be directly comparable with the grants paid figures.
	From 2003–04, administration subsidy for both housing benefit and council tax benefit will be funded entirely by this Department as one direct grant to local authorities.
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £100,000.
	2. Reported local authority expenditure figures are subject to revision by local authorities.
	Sources:
	Administration subsidy figures
	1. Social Security Income Related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Orders 2000.
	2. ODPM Revenue Support Grant Settlement 2000–01.
	3. Welsh Authorities—included within Revenue Support Grant Settlement 2000–01.
	4. Scottish authorities; 'Grant Aided Expenditure 2000–01'.
	Local authority expenditure figures
	1. English authorities—reports to the ODPM, and its predecessors/using form RO4.
	2. Welsh authorities—reports to the Welsh Assembly using form RO4.
	3. Scottish authorities—reports to the Scottish Executive using Local Financial Return LFR9.
	4. Figures are subject to revision by local authorities.

Departmental Spending

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the real growth in spending by his Department between 1997 and 2002 on (a) housing benefit, (b) council tax benefit, (c) pensions, (d) disability benefits, (e) child benefits and (f) unemployment related benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table. It shows the Government is spending less on the costs of unemployment—so that the annual bill is now around £5 billion lower than in 1996–97. This allows the Government to continue to invest with confidence in the key priorities—pensioners and families.
	
		Total change in expenditure in real terms, Great Britain, financial years 1996–97 to 2001–02 -- Percentage
		
			   DWP Annually Managed Expenditure Total Benefit Expenditure  
		
		
			  (a) Housing Benefit -7.0 -12.7 
			  (b) Council Tax Benefit 2.3 2.2 
			  (c) Pensions 16.5 16.5 
			  (d) Disability Benefits 23.2 23.2 
			 (e) Child Benefits Including Family Credit/Disability Working Allowance 3.3 3.3 
			  Excluding Family Credit/Disability Working Allowance 14.3 14.3 
			  (f) Unemployment-related benefits N/A -57.9 
		
	
	Notes and definitions
	(a), (b) and (f): Second column includes Housing and Council Tax Benefit expenditure financed within local authorities' Housing Revenue Accounts and general funds.
	(c) Includes Retirement Pension and equivalent benefits for people over pension age, Minimum Income Guarantee, Winter Fuel Payments and Over 75 TV Licences. Expenditure on Over 75 TV Licences includes Northern Ireland.
	(d) Includes Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, Independent Living Funds and Vaccine Damage Payments.
	(e) Includes Child Benefit (including Lone Parent addition), Guardian's Allowance and Child's Special Allowance, child-related elements of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance (unless otherwise stated).
	(f) Includes Jobseeker's Allowance, Unemployment Benefit, and Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for the unemployed. Some expenditure in this category will also be included in (a), (b) and (e). Information on DWP AME is not available for this category because the data that is used to identify unemployed people in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit does not show whether their benefit is funded by DWP, or from the other sources of funding for these benefits (local authorities' Housing Revenue Accounts and general funds).
	Source
	Departmental Accounts and estimated outturn underlying the Pre-Budget 2002 forecasts.

Local Authority Software

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the cost of alterations to local authority software as a result of (a) the new tax credits, (b) housing benefit reform and (c) the pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available on the specific costs of alterations to local authority software. However, during 2002–03, we distributed £6 million to local authorities to help them meet set up costs relating to new tax credits.
	We also distributed an extra £15 million for set up costs relating to the pension credit. As we recognise that some of the development for pension credit will continue beyond 2002–03, we have allocated a further £2 million for 2003–04.
	We are not yet in a position to estimate the cost of software changes in the Standard Local Housing Allowance pathfinder authorities, but are discussing the details of the scheme with the authorities and their software providers.

Post Office Card Accounts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2003, Official Report, column 608W, on post office card accounts, if he will set out the timetable for devising and implementing the scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: We are currently exploring alternative ways in which these customers could receive their money.

HEALTH

Advertising Campaigns

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns between April 2002 and March 2003; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to (a) television, (b) radio and (c) print media.

David Lammy: A list of the major campaigns run by the Department of Health's Communications directorate during 2002–03, whose advertising expenditure included television, radio and print media is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Name of Campaign TV Expenditure Expenditure on Radio Expenditure on Print Media Total 
		
		
			 Antibiotics — — 0.44 0.44 
			 Flu 0.95 — 0.581 1.531 
			 Immunisation — 0.3 0.35 0.65 
			 Mind Out 0.056 0.014 0.072 0.142 
			 National Health Service— 
			 including nurse recruitment 1.986 0.0865 2.0363 4.108 
			 NHS Direct — — 0.58 0.58 
			 Organ donation 0.06 0.05 0.10 0.21 
			 RU Thinking/teenage pregnancy — 0.945 0.275 1.22 
			 Sexual Health — 0.534 0.240 0.774 
			 Social Worker Recruitment — 0.213 0.720 0.933 
			 Smoking 7.524 0.050 0.935 8.509 
			 TB Awareness — — 0.09 0.09 
			 Winter — — 0.25 0.25

Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available to the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS trust additional funding to enable the trust to implement immediately the recommendations of the Commission for Health Improvement report on maternity services at the hospitals, published on 31 March.

Jacqui Smith: The Department welcomes the publication of the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) report into maternity services at the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals national health service trust. We are currently considering the recommendations contained in the report and will make a formal response shortly. However, it is a matter for the trust, working with the strategic health authority, to produce and implement an action plan for the CHI recommendations relating to the trust.

Central Records System

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the anticipated (a) benefits and (b) cost savings are of the proposed central records system in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The creation of the integrated care record service (ICRS) is a core infrastructure element of the Government's modernisation programme for the national health service. Its primary focus is to enable the delivery of responsive care tailored to the needs of citizens and patients as described in the NHS Plan rather than specific cost savings.
	ICRS benefits will result in improved clinical effectiveness rather than just administrative efficiency. The table provides a summary of the key benefits that are expected.
	
		ICRS benefits
		
			  
		
		
			 Improved efficiency Time savings 
			  Reduction in duplicate tests, DNAs 
			  Improved scheduling 
			   
			 Effectiveness and Patient outcomes Access to knowledge 
			  Patient outcomes 
			  Improved compliance with clinical protocols 
			   
			 Safety of care Reduction in medical errors 
			   
			 Support for patient centred care Timeliness/reduction in waiting times 
			  Equity 
			  Better patient experience 
			  Patient empowerment 
			   
			 Whole system working Shared record 
			  Enables different models of care 
			  Support for care across organisational boundaries 
			 Meet core corporate objectives Performance targets 
			  Corporate and clinical governance 
		
	
	National health service health authorities and trusts will of course need to make business cases justifying their investment in ICRS implementations and demonstrating value for money.
	The Government's national strategic programme for the NHS is concerned with major developments in the deployment and use of information technology (IT) in the NHS. It aims to connect delivery of the NHS Plan with the capabilities of modern information technologies to:
	support the patient and the delivery of services designed around the patient, quickly, conveniently and seamlessly;
	support staff through effective electronic communications, better learning and knowledge management, cut the time to find essential information (notes, test results) and make specialised expertise more accessible;
	improve management and delivery of services by providing good quality data to support national service frameworks, clinical audit, governance and management information.
	The Government will continue to work closely with the clinical professions to ensure these goals are achieved.

Children in Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training has been provided to (a) GPs and (b) carers in identifying children who (i) have problems in schools, (ii) have alcohol or drug misuse problems and (c) are committing anti-social or criminal behaviour as set out in paragraph 2.15 of Command Paper 5778.

Jacqui Smith: Paragraph 2.15 of Command Paper 5778 refers to general practitioners as one gateway into more specialist services for parents and carers who need extra support in differing circumstances.
	The children at risk cross-cutting review looked at the issue of training for professionals working with children and young people and recommended the development of a common core of learning and skills objectives.
	The Government will be publishing a Green Paper that will examine how well services are meeting the needs of children at risk, of poor outcomes, including educational failure, offending, victimisation and abuse and ill health. It will examine what could be done to make services more responsive and better able to intervene earlier in the life cycle rather than in response to crisis.

Community Health Council Properties

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Community Health Council properties are owned by the NHS; how many such offices are leased; how many leases will be ended in the next six months; how many such offices will be allocated to other NHS uses; and what the cost implications are for the NHS of these property changes.

David Lammy: There are 25 Community Health Council properties owned by the national health service; another 158 are leased and 76 of those leases will be ended in the next six months. As is usual in such circumstances, surplus CHC office premises will in the first place be offered to other NHS organisations. If no alternative health service use can be found, the leases will be determined or, if freehold, the premises sold. It is not possible at this stage to estimate the costs involved.

Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts employ community pulmonary rehabilitation nurses.

John Hutton: Nurses have a significant contribution to make to the care of people with respiratory conditions. Pulmonary rehabilitation is increasingly offered in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly to older people, to help people achieve their highest level of function and independence. However, information on local service configuration in England such as the number of pulmonary rehabilitation services, and their staffing profile, is not collected centrally.
	We expect all primary care trusts however, to plan provision of services that meet the needs of all patients including those who have pulmonary disease.

Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the role of community pulmonary rehabilitation services in reducing emergency admissions to acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued to primary care trusts on community pulmonary rehabilitation services; and what performance targets he has set for these services.

Jacqui Smith: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing a guideline on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care. NICE is due to publish the guideline in 2004. In January 2003, the Respiratory Alliance published its guidance, "Bridging the Gap", which aims to help primary care trusts to commission and deliver high quality allergy and respiratory care.
	We have issued no guidance to primary care trusts on community pulmonary rehabilitation services nor made any assessment of the role of community pulmonary rehabilitation services in reducing emergency admissions to acute hospitals.

Consultants

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants there are in each accident and emergency department in England.

John Hutton: Information on the number of accident and emergency (A&E) consultants within trusts which have an A&E department have been placed in the Library.
	Where this figure is less than 10, there is a risk that individual doctors could be identified. This is contrary to the Data Protection Act 1998. For this reason, published data is rounded to the nearest 10 or where the figure is less than five, the number is replaced with a star.

Coronary Care

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants were working in coronary care in the NHS in (a) England, (b) each NHS region and (c) each NHS trust in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: The three specialties involved in coronary care are cardiology, cardio-thoracic surgery and paediatric cardiology. Information on the number of consultants for each specialty by strategic health authority and national health service trust has been placed in the Library.
	Where this figure is less than 10, there is a risk that individual doctors could be identified. This is contrary to the Data Protection Act 1998. For this reason, published data is rounded to the nearest 10 or where the figure is less than five, the number is replaced with a star, *.

Dental Charges

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on NHS dentists' charges for missed appointments.

David Lammy: The dentists' terms of service, Schedule 1 to the NHS (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 as amended, allows a dentist to claim from a patient in respect of loss of remuneration resulting from a failure of a patient to keep an appointment for general dental services. Patients must be informed that failing to keep an appointment will result in a charge.

Diabetes

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make insulin pumps available to diabetes sufferers on the national health service.

David Lammy: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued its full guidance on the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion for diabetes in February 2003. The guidance states that insulin pump therapy is an option for some people with Type 1 diabetes. Health professionals are expected to take full account of this guidance when exercising their clinical judgement. Hospital consultants may prescribe equipment such as insulin pumps as part of national health service treatment. It is for the NHS locally to make decisions about the best use of its resources on the basis of its priorities and needs.

Diabetes

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress with the implementation of the national service framework for the treatment of diabetes.

David Lammy: We continue to lay the building blocks for implementation of the diabetes national service framework (NSF). We have appointed a National Clinical Director for Diabetes to lead progress and provide support to the national health service in delivering the NSF. The diabetic retinopathy screening programme is being developed and the screening pilots for Type 2 diabetes are already under way.

Dual Diagnosis

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish detailed guidance for treatment of mental health dual diagnosis patients; which categories of dual diagnosis are being considered for such guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health published the "Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide" as an addition to the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" in May 2002. The guide explicates the policy and good practice in the provision of mental health services to people with severe mental health problems and problematic misuse of any drug including alcohol but not tobacco.
	The National Treatment Agency for substance misuse (NTA), in partnership with the Department of Health, has recently published "Models of Care", which sets out a national framework for the commissioning of an integrated drug treatment system for adult drug misusers in England. This includes detailed guidance on provision of services for psychiatric co-morbidity (dual diagnosis) and the document also cross-references the "Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide" for mental health services.
	The Department of Health also commissioned the Royal College of Psychiatrists to publish an information manual for multi-disciplinary practitioners based on expert review of the evidence and its implications for safe and effective practice entitled "Co-existing Problems of Mental Disorder and Substance Misuse (Dual Diagnosis)—An Information Manual" in 2001. This has since been distributed widely. In addition, a literature review and collection of abstracts on this subject was commissioned from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and is available on request.

Foster Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 12 March 2003, Official Report, column 340W, on foster care, if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in the Choice Protects Review of local authority fostering allowances.

Jacqui Smith: I announced the Choice Protects Review in March 2002 because of my concerns about placement services for looked after children. The Choice Protects Review is looking at all aspects of the fostering service, specifically focusing on support for foster carers.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to appoint the Independent Regulator of NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Independent Regulator will be appointed when the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill is enacted.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an hon. Member is eligible to apply for the position of Independent Regulator of NHS foundation trusts; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will disqualify Members of the House of Commons from eligibility to apply for the position of Independent Regulator.

GP Practices

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner doctors' practices there were in 1995; and how many there are now.

John Hutton: The information requested for England and for Wales is shown in the table.
	
		Unrestricted Principles and Equivalents (UPEs)(30) and Partnerships as at 1 October 1995 and 30 September 2001
		
			  1995 2001 
			  UPEs Partnerships UPEs Partnerships 
		
		
			 England total 26,702 9,062 27,843 8,817 
			 Wales total 1,719 534 1,785 517 
		
	
	(30) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General Medical Services Statistics England and Wales as at 1 October 1995
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics England and Wales as at 30 September 2001
	Department of Health Statistics for General Medical Practitioners in England: 1991–2001
	The 1995 data for England and for Wales, and the 2001 data for England is available from: www.doh.gov.uk/public/NHSWorkforce.htm
	The National Assembly for Wales published the data for 2001 at: www.wales.gov.uk/keypubstatisticsforwalesheadline/content/health
	Information relating Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the devolved Administrations. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved responsibility rest with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office.

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authorities that (a) had and (b) did not have health overview and scrutiny committees working by 1 April.

David Lammy: This information is not available. The Department will be monitoring the implementation of the powers to scrutinise health services as it rolls out across England.

Health Trusts (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many voluntary organisations made expressions of interest to the Commission for Patient Public Involvement by the deadline of 26 March to initiate, develop and manage patient and public involvement forums for (a) Taunton Dean Primary Care Trust and (b) Taunton and Somerset NHS Hospital Trust.

David Lammy: Information relating to the expressions of interest to provide support to patient and public involvement forums is a matter for the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health. The Commission can be contacted at
	9th Floor Ladywood House
	45–56 Stephenson Street
	Birmingham
	B2 4DY

Independent Regulator

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedure is in place for (a) an NHS hospital trust and (b) an independent hospital to give notice to the Independent Regulator of its intention to become an NHS foundation trust.

John Hutton: Subject to parliamentary approval, provisions in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will allow for an application to be made to the regulator by persons (other than a national health service trust) to be incorporated as a public benefit corporation and authorised to become an NHS foundation trust, if the application is supported by the Secretary of State.

Independent Regulator

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Independent Regulator, before making its prudential borrowing code, will be required to consult any independent organisation that intends to make an application to become an NHS foundation trust.

John Hutton: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will make provision for the Regulator to consult such persons as he considers appropriate and this may include independent organisations that intend to make an application to become a national health service foundation trust.

Iraq

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether each strategic health authority has a programme in place to accommodate the mental health needs of returning servicemen and women; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what preparations have been made by the NHS for on-going mental health and counselling services for returning servicemen and women.

Jacqui Smith: Most returning armed forces personnel requiring mental health care will be treated by the Defence medical services, which have experience in dealing with mental illnesses resulting from conflict. National health service mental health care will be available to any Service personnel who need it.
	The capacity and flexibility of mental health services provided by the NHS mean that no specific programmes or preparations need to be made for treating returning Service personnel. If they require NHS mental health care they will be able to access it through appropriate referral routes.

NHS Professionals

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS acute trusts have signed up to use NHS Professionals; and what proportion of acute trusts this represents;
	(2)  what national deadlines were set for the expansion of NHS Professionals between November 2000 and January 2003;
	(3)  what representations he has received on the adequacy of the (a) facilities and (b) IT systems to support NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 1054W, on NHS Professionals, what the terms of reference of the assessment are;
	(5)  what representations he has received on the (a) training and (b) criminal records checks undergone by nurses used by NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what representations he has received on the funding of NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  if he will make a statement on his Department's role in supporting the West Yorkshire Ambulance Service over the introduction of NHS Professionals.

John Hutton: To date, 42 national health service acute trusts are making use of NHS Professionals, which represents 17 per cent. of all NHS acute trusts. In addition 13 other NHS trusts are making use of NHS Professionals. The Government's aim is that by April 2005 all NHS trusts should be using the NHS Professionals service exclusively to source temporary nursing staff.
	The assessment of NHS Professionals was established to take stock of progress on its implementation, review the different approaches in the provision of temporary staffing and recommend the most viable options for continuing this service in-house.
	Currently, each provider of NHS Professionals has sourced their own facilities and information technology (IT) solutions. The new special health authority for NHS Professionals will be responsible for the future long-term strategy for the core business processes of the NHS Professionals service, including call centre management, employment services, payroll, payments to agencies, invoicing trusts, management reporting and IT. National targets for the expansion of NHS Professionals were set out in Health Service Circular (HSC) 002/2001 published 16 February 2001.
	The new special health authority for NHS Professionals will be responsible for the future long-term strategy for training. Criminal records checks will be carried out on NHS Professionals nurses as laid down in Departmental Guidelines. In common with checks for other staff groups, theses are subject to some delay at the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) but the position is improving. Such checks are not mandatory except in the case of appointments to posts caring for children within the terms of the Protection of Children Act 1999, which require a check to be made against the Protection of Children Act List. In these cases, a fast-track facility for checks is available at the CRB.
	NHS Professionals was allocated £7 million to support the start up of pilot sites. A further £29 million has been invested this year. We will continue to invest in the implementation and development of NHS Professionals through the new special health authority for NHS Professionals.
	The Department of Health has worked closely with West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (WYMAS) NHS Trust on the development of NHS Professionals and has provided funding to take account of extra costs incurred on implementation and will continue to work with WYMAS through the next stage of development to move their NHS Professionals operations to a new special health authority for NHS Professionals.

Nurses

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student nurses entered the NHS in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 April 2003
	Information on the number of national health service funded pre-registration nursing and midwifery training places in each of the last ten years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Nursing and midwifery 
		
		
			 1992–93 16,338 
			 1993–94 14,197 
			 1994–95 12,480 
			 1995–96 13,381 
			 1996–97 14,984 
			 1997–98 16,539 
			 1998–99 17,689 
			 1999–2000 18,707 
			 2000–01 20,021 
			 2001–02 21,770 
		
	
	Between 1992 and 2001, the number of nursing and midwifery training places has increased by 5,430 or 33 per cent.
	The Government are committed to increasing the numbers of training places for nurses and midwives. The NHS Plan stated that, by 2004, there would be an extra 5,500 nurses and midwives being trained each year. Since the 1999 baseline, there has been an increase of 3,063 and latest figures suggest a further increase of around 1,540 in the current financial year.

Nurses

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the qualifications requirements for people becoming nurses in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 April 2003
	The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent statutory body, which sets the standards of conduct and competence required to register and work as a nurse in the United Kingdom, ensuring fitness to practise and public protection. These standards are reviewed from time to time as necessary by the NMC.
	At present, the NMC also sets specific educational entry requirements for pre-registration nursing and midwifery programmes leading to registration. However, following consultation the NMC will in future set only broad, general entry requirements. These have yet to be determined.
	The new rules will require applicants to meet the general entry requirements defined by the NMC and the specific educational entry requirements of the higher education institution (HEI). The NMC acknowledges that HEIs accept a range of academic and vocational qualifications, with their own processes for assessing non-standard entrants.

Organ Donors (Overseas)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy on obtaining organs from donors abroad.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Human Organ Transplant Act, 1989 prohibits, in the United Kingdom, commercial dealings in human organs, places restrictions upon transplants between living persons who are not genetically related and requires certain information to be supplied about transplant operations.
	Most countries with organ transplant programmes also have legislation banning payments for organ donation. There are formal arrangements in place between European transplant organisations to ensure that when an organ cannot be used in the originating country it is offered for use to patients in other European countries.

Overseas Dentists

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what courses and qualifications are available to ensure that overseas dentists wishing to practise in England have training, skills and qualifications at an equal level to dentists trained in England.

David Lammy: In order to practise dentistry in the United Kingdom, dentists must have their qualifications recognised by, and register with, the General Dental Council (GDC). Generally, overseas qualified dentists wishing to practise in the UK have to pass the GDCs international qualifying examination, but nationals of other European Economic Area states holding specified dental qualifications awarded by these states are entitled to automatic recognition in the UK on the basis of agreed minimum training requirements.

Pharmacists

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to make increased use of pharmacists to ease the pressure on GPs;
	(2)  what plans he has to transfer responsibility for repeat prescriptions from GPs to chemists.

David Lammy: Community pharmacists have an important part to play in our plans to expand national health service services, thereby relieving pressures on general practitioners whilst making better use of their own skills. They already provide advice on minor ailments and sell a wide range of medicines which help people take care of their own health. Patient group directions can enable pharmacists to supply groups of patients direct with prescription-only medicines.
	Pharmacists are increasingly involved in providing support and detailed advice to patients and to doctors on the use of medicines. The first repeat dispensing schemes will begin shortly. Pharmacists will supply medicines for up to a year, without the patient needing to go back to their general practitioner for a further prescription. Later this year, the first pharmacists will become supplementary prescribers. With the patient's consent, pharmacists will be able to prescribe under the terms of a patient-specific clinical management plan agreed with their doctor.
	The new general medical services contract proposes new ways to assess whether services could be offered by other health professionals, especially where these services could be accessed more easily and more cost-effectively than through traditional general practice. We expect pharmacists to play a full part in this and we are currently developing a new contractual framework for community pharmacy to help make that happen.

Pharmacists

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that vulnerable patients, with particular reference to (a) the elderly, (b) the disabled and (c) young mothers, continue to have easy access to local pharmacy services.

David Lammy: Under the National Health Service Act 1977, it is the responsibility of national health service primary care trusts (PCTs) to arrange the provision of pharmaceutical services in their area. This includes determining whether it is necessary or desirable to secure adequate provision of services by granting new applications. The Health and Social Care Act 2001 also empowers PCTs to devise contracts for local pharmaceutical services which address particular local needs.
	In January 2003, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published a report, which recommended that there should be no controls on the opening of new NHS pharmacies. In answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann), on 26 March, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, announced that the Government favours change to open up the market and to improve quality and access, so that more NHS patients can use the skills of community pharmacists for advice, information and services. The OFT report had also noted that in a more competitive environment problems could arise through the possible effect of deregulation on the ability of patients in some areas to access high quality pharmacy services. The Government is therefore examining these issues further. It intends to come forward with a balanced package of proposals before Parliament rises in the summer. Any proposed changes would then be the subject of full consultation.

Pharmacists

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to address the increased demand on the pharmacy work force.

David Lammy: Securing adequate numbers in the pharmacy work force and developing the roles of pharmacists and their staff are central to the success of our pharmacy strategy. There are over a third more new pharmacy students now than 10 years ago. We forecast a 12 per cent. increase in the pharmacist work force between 1998 and this year. New schools of pharmacy should provide additional graduates from 2007 onwards. At the Department's request, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has established a pharmacy work force planning and policy advisory group to scope future work force needs and advise on managing supply and demand. The group is expected to report in 2004.
	We are also considering responses to the discussion paper, "Pharmacy Workforce in the New NHS", launched in September 2002 to improve the skill mix of the pharmacy work force and develop the role of pharmacy support staff. We will bring forward proposals in due course.

Pharmacists

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received on the desirability of retaining and nurturing smaller independent pharmacies; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: We have received over 1,000 responses to the report the Office of Fair Trading, published in January 2003, many of which refer to the desirability of maintaining smaller independent pharmacies.
	The Government favours change in England to open up the market and improve quality and access, which we intend to do without diminishing the crucial role that pharmacies play, especially in poorer and rural areas. The Government intends to come forward with a balanced package of proposals before Parliament rises in the summer. Any proposed changes would then be the subject of full consultation.

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there were in each year since 1992 at Royal Shrewsbury hospital.

David Lammy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of beds 
		
		
			 1992 523 
			 1993 523 
			 1994 523 
			 1995 523 
			 1996 523 
			 1997 523 
			 1998 523 
			 1999 523 
			 2000 523 
			 2001 523 
			 2002 529 
			 2003 540 
		
	
	Source:
	Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed by his Department.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the response given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State (Mr. Alexander), Cabinet Office on 3 April 2003, Official Report, column 780W.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by his Department in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the response given to him by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 4 April 2003, Official Report, columns 891–92W.

Staff Union Duties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002.

David Lammy: The Department of Health, including its agencies, has 10 accredited full-time union representatives (100 per cent. of their duties), who may receive paid leave to undertake union activities.
	In addition to facility time, a reasonable amount of paid time off for accredited representatives, to enable them to carry out trade union activities, may be given within a limit of 15 days per annum. An additional 10 days may be given to those elected or appointed to national union bodies such as group and national executive committees.
	As all annual leave taken by staff is recorded and checked locally by business areas within the Department, there is no centrally held information available on the cost of paid leave taken by accredited representatives for trade union activities.
	The Department does not hold any details of union duties undertaken by non-departmental public bodies staff.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Archaeological Investigations

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to replace the present system of competitive tendering in developer-funded archaeological investigations.

Tony McNulty: Planning Policy Guidance Note 16, "Archaeology and Planning", advises that, where archaeological remains may be affected by development proposals, suitable archaeological investigations should be arranged by the prospective developer. In its policy statement on the future of the historic environment, "The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future", the Government encourage the growth in the number of organisations competing for projects to record archaeological sites and to advise on the potential impact of development proposals. It also looks to English Heritage to ensure that the necessary high standards are maintained in the examination and recording of sites. It is for local planning authorities and prospective developers in individual cases to secure the best means for the conservation of archaeological remains likely to be affected by development proposals.

Building Regulations (Thermal Insulation)

David Chaytor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to clarify the advice contained in Annex C paragraphs C37/40/44/49/50 of the Planning Policy Guidance in respect of replacement of fenestration in listed buildings to take account of the self certification provisions within the April 2002 revision to Building Regulations relating to thermal insulation; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: English Heritage has produced an interim guidance note on the considerations that should be taken into account in the implementation of the Building Regulations Approved Document Part L, "Conservation of Fuel and Power", as it affects historic buildings.
	In line with the commitment in the Planning Statement, "Sustainable Communities: Delivering Through Planning", the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to review existing planning policy guidance, including that contained in Planning Policy Guidance 15, "Planning and the Historic Environment". The review will enable us to consider regulatory and other changes affecting the historic environment that have been introduced since PPG 15 was issued in September 1994 and to consider the extent to which these should be reflected in updated guidance. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to publish draft revised guidance later this year for public consultation and this will provide the opportunity for representations to be made.

Disabled Facilities Grants (Gloucestershire)

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of the disabled facilities grants awarded to district and city councils in Gloucestershire was spent by each in each year since 1998.

Tony McNulty: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 971W.

Home Ownership (Buckingham)

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the level of home ownership in the Buckingham constituency in 2002.

Tony McNulty: The 2001 Census reports that 76 per cent. of households in Aylesbury Vale Local Authority are owner occupied. Aylesbury Vale Local Authority comprises the entire Parliamentary constituency of Buckingham, and part of Aylesbury.

Social Landlords (Eviction Orders)

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made in meeting the commitment made by his Department in April 2002 to improve the collection of data concerning the number of possession orders and evictions by social landlords; and what discussions have taken place with the Lord Chancellor's Department about this issue.

Tony McNulty: Discussions between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Court Service are continuing and we remain committed to finding ways of achieving a better breakdown of the data currently collected on the number of possession actions and evictions by social landlords. Enhancing the data will enable us to monitor trends on possession actions and improve our understanding of the causes of homelessness.

Urban Renewal

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he is taking to promote urban renewal.

Tony McNulty: The Government's policies for delivering an urban renaissance were set out in the Urban White Paper, "Our Towns and Our Cities: the Future", published in November 2000. This provides the framework within which Government policies and programmes affecting urban areas in England are co-ordinated.
	In February 2003, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister launched "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future"—a £22 billion action programme to improve housing and communities, including over £5 billion to regenerate deprived areas. This programme builds on the policies and actions in the Urban White Paper and the Rural White Paper, "Our Countryside: the Future".
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is investing over £4 billion through the Neighbourhood Renewal National Strategy Action Plan to tackle deprivation, and extend prosperity and opportunity to the poorest neighbourhoods in the country. This money is used to encourage the better targeting of services and mainstream public funds to the most deprived areas and to provide evidence of best practice through pathfinder programmes.

Wind Farms

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish a map showing (a) present and (b) projected wind farms in England.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Youth Homelessness

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish the research commissioned by his Department in 1999 into youth homelessness as part of the Homeless Action Partnership (a) to provide a reliable estimate of the number of young people affected by various types of homelessness and (b) to provide a tool kit for local authorities to produce accurate figures locally; and how much has been spent on each of these pieces of research.

Barbara Roche: Two research projects were commissioned in 1999 to assist the Youth Homelessness Action Partnership. The first looked at the effectiveness of a range of initiative working with young people to prevent homelessness. Publication of a good practice guide and a research summary is planned for late spring 2003.
	The second study, to investigate methods of estimating numbers of young homeless people and to provide a local authority toolkit, has proved much more problematic because of the difficulties in achieving reliable estimates. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans, therefore, to publish this work.
	The costs of the work were £78,918 and £67,517 respectively.